Rachel Sherman Johnson, Ph.D.

As the director of internationalization and partnerships for KU International Affairs, Rachel Sherman Johnson is responsible for the university’s international agreements, and works with campus stakeholders to develop and renew strategic partnerships that promote KU’s academic and co-curricular mission. In addition, Rachel manages the outbound Fulbright U.S. Student Program and Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad application processes,  supports faculty and staff Fulbright applications, and advises KU’s international Fulbright scholars and students. She leads workshops for students, staff, and faculty on intercultural competence and curricular internationalization, drawing from over 15 years of experience in the field of international higher education.

As an undergraduate, Rachel studied abroad in Japan, Greece, and the UK, experiences that inspired her internationally focused career. Since then, she has lived and worked in Japan and South Korea, and has visited more than 30 countries around the world. In her free time, she can often be found cooking a new vegetarian recipe, playing board games with her family, or planning her next travel adventure.