Michelle K. Johnston

Michelle D. Kirtley Johnston is an American management professor and executive coach who is the Clifton A. Morvant Distinguished Professor in Business at Loyola University New Orleans.

Life
Johnston earned a B.A. (1991) in public relations with a minor in journalism and a M.A. (1994) in the department of communication from Auburn University. Her master's thesis was titled, ''Can We Talk? Exploring the Impact of Gender-role Self-perceptions on Communication Styles''. James B. Weaver, III was her thesis advisor. Johnston earned a Ph.D. in communication theory with a minor in organizational development from the Louisiana State University in 1999. Her dissertation was titled, The Influence of Communication Variables on Group Attraction and Group Communication Satisfaction. Her dissertation co-chairs were Loretta Pecchioni and Renee Edwards.

Johnston is a management professor and executive coach. She joined the college of business at Loyola University New Orleans in 1999 as an assistant professor of management. She was promoted to associate professor in 2008, professor in 2017, and Gaston Professor of Business in 2019. In 2023, Johnston became the Clifton A. Morvant Distinguished Professor in Business.