2024 ANNUAL ALUMNI RECPTION

2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Dr. Herald "Chip" Johnson (MMEd '07) Each Year, the Alumni Association reviews nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association. The criteria include: Candidates have an established record of excellence in their particular field, confirmed and recognized either regionally or nationally. Have a history of supporting VanderCook through any or all of the following: Professional visibility in their field. A degree of recognition and respect among colleagues and other professionals. Actual service to the college (donations of time, money, expertise, “sweat equity,” etc.) A sense of responsibility toward supporting the goals and mission of VanderCook. A willingness to continue to support VanderCook. A sustaining interest in promoting VanderCook to potential students and professionals. We proudly announce Herald “Chip” Johnson as the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. Dr. Herald “Chip” Johnson (MMEd '07) is a south side, Chicago-based native from the West Chesterfield community who spent most of his formative years in Chicago Public Schools and later graduating from the Mendel Catholic High School. He began his undergraduate studies in Music Performance at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where he toured for three years with the acclaimed GRAMMY Award winning Fisk Jubilee Singers while a student at Fisk. He later received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance at Roosevelt University in Chicago; a Master of Education degree from DePaul University; a Master in Music Education degree (Choral Conducting) from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago); a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Curriculum and Administration from National Louis University, where he also completed his Doctorate in Education, successfully defending his dissertation entitled, “Understanding a Familial Mentorship Model in Cultivation of Leaders Who Serve”. READ FULL BIO HER


  Herald “Chip” Johnson is a south side, Chicago-based native from the West Chesterfield community who spent most of his formative years in Chicago Public Schools and later graduating from the Mendel Catholic High School. He began his undergraduate studies in Music Performance at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where he toured for three years with the acclaimed GRAMMY Award winning Fisk Jubilee Singers while a student at Fisk. He later received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance at Roosevelt University in Chicago; a Master of Education degree from DePaul University; a Master in Music Education degree (Choral Conducting) from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago); a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Curriculum and Administration from National Louis University, where he also completed his Doctorate in Education,  successfully defending his dissertation entitled, “Understanding a Familial Mentorship Model in Cultivation of Leaders Who Serve”.   Dr. Johnson began his teaching career at Crane Tech High School in 1994, later transferring to John Hope College Prep High School where he taught for 14 years. In 2009, he served as the Assistant Principal of the Matteson Elementary School (SD162), and later became the founding Director of the Southland College Prep Charter High School (Richton Park, Illinois). In 2012, he returned to Chicago Public Schools to serve as Deputy Chief of Schools and later became  Chief of Schools for Chicago Public Schools (CPS).   In June 2021, Dr. Johnson retired from Chicago Public Schools as the Chief Officer for the Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and returned to Southland College Prep Charter High School in Richton Park, where he served as the Chief of Staff to the Superintendent until retiring in 2024.   He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the VanderCook College of Music; Chairman of the HeralDelores Johnson Scholarship Foundation that awards scholarships to students attending an Historically Black College or University; Board member of the CommonGround Foundation; and Board member of the LUV Institute.   Dr. Johnson continues to serve as an Educational Consultant working with urban and suburban school districts, and continues his work as a professional pianist and organist.