Have you ever wondered how stars form or galaxies evolve? Johnson’s research spans galaxy evolution, with a focus on how the most ancient star clusters in the universe were formed, for which she utilizes observing facilities across the electromagnetic spectrum, but with a particular focus on long-wavelengths (radio, millimeter, submillimeter). Her research has received awards including the NSF CAREER Award, a Packard Fellowship, and an NSF Distinguished lectureship.

An award-winning teacher, Kelsey Johnson has accolades including the "All University Teaching Award”, the “Z-Society Distinguished Professor” award, and was recently named as one of four “ACC Distinguished Professors” in the Atlantic Coast Conference of universities. She relishes developing nontraditional courses such as Unsolved Mysteries in the Universe, Math and Beauty in the Cosmos, and Shadows: Beyond the Visible (co-taught with Dr. Sarah Betzer).

Recent highlights include: In 2016 Johnson was appointed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee. In 2017 she was elected to the board of the American Astronomical Society and chaired the Ethics Task Force. She is the past-president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and director of the Dark Skies Bright Kids program, and the president-elect of the American Astronomical Society.

Kelsey Johnson is a professor of Astronomy and the director of the Echols Scholars (honors) Program at the University of Virginia. Previous to her faculty appointment, Johnson was an NSF Fellow and a Hubble Fellow. In 2016 she was elected to the UVA Raven Society, and in 2017elected to the UVA Society of Fellows. She earned her B.A. in physics from Carleton College, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Colorado. Her thesis advisor was Peter S. Conti.