Johns attended OSU from 1970 to 1974. Though he came to OSU to study agriculture, he discovered a passion for photography. After graduating from Oregon State and earning a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, Johns embarked on a successful career as a photojournalist. He was named the National Newspaper Photographer of the Year in 1979. After a number of years as a freelance photographer, he joined National Geographic’s staff in 1995. In 2003 he became editor-in-chief of National Geographic magazine. That same year he was also named as one of the twenty-five most important photographers in the world. Johns was OSU’s 2005 commencement speaker.
