Curtis Johnson

Curt Johnson's career crosses boundaries like they were streets. He's been a teacher, a community college president, the head of a citizens think tank, a policy adviser and chief of staff to a Minnesota governor, chairman of the board of one of America's only two regional governments -- and all this time, a co-author of two books about American regions and more than a hundred feature articles in more than 50 newspapers in 24 American regions. These "Citistates Reports" cover long-term strategic issues -- from economic development strategies to transportation to leadership issues.

The reports are produced by the Citistates Group, where Johnson is a partner and senior writer. The Citistates Group is a national network of journalists and activists focused on how regions become more economically competitive and socially livable places. Citistates has just completed a multi-year project in the six states of New England. His current work includes collaborating with a national organization focused on the emerging "open sector" in education. He is also writing a book this year with Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christenson explaining how business research about innovation applies to the crisis in America’s schools.

Johnson has a BA in history from Baylor University and a PhD in education from the University of Texas.