Nicole Jeanine Johnson

About Nicole Jeanine Johnson

Nicole Jeanine Johnson is a writer, emerging multi-media journalist, specializing in issues at the intersection of politics, race, equity, education, and wellness. Relationships are her currency, and she cultivates and maintains them with ease, grace, and sincerity. Whether she is building a connection to get to the heart of a story, or building rapport with a donor to secure a mission driven investment, she reaches across all barriers, leading with human connection. Nicole has a breadth of experiences that offers her credibility to speak on and craft narratives to- amplify how systemic racism impacts Black folks and other marginalized peoples quality of life- challenge local and national political leaders to mobilize to affect structural change- explore opportunities to explore how schools as institutions can make impact beyond the classroom, addressing community ills like pervasive violence - encourage lifestyles in order to navigate societal and life stressors to improve our quality of life Her career allowed her to impact children and their families as a classroom teacher in Chicago Public Schools, elevate the voices of the unheard by running for public office, and guide corporations to invest in community needs and provide greater access to opportunity for historically marginalized youth and their families. She is also a published author of her debut inspirational memoir, Of All the Lives I’ve Lived: This Is My Favorite (New Degree Press, 2022), under the pen name Lotus Hale Hill. Nicole holds a Masters of Science in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Experience

1. Investigative Reporting Fellow

   Chicago Public Media

   Nov 2025 — Present

Education

• Northwestern University

  Master of Science - MS, Journalism

• University of Pennsylvania

  Master's degree, Education Policy

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science

• National Louis University

  Master's Of Arts, Elementary Education and Teaching

• Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

  High School Diploma

Skills

• Event Planning
• Data Analysis
• Microsoft Office
• Public Speaking
• Technical Writing
• Academic Writing
• Lesson Planning
• Fundraising
• Powerpoint
• Teaching
• Classroom
• Nonprofits
• Community Outreach
• Program Development
• Curriculum Design
• Social Media
• Leadership
• Higher Education
• Blogging
• Research