Civil rights leader Benjamin E. Mays’ words have stayed with Relius Johnson for years.
“I have only just a minute / Only sixty seconds in it / Forced upon me, can’t refuse it / Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it / But it’s up to me to use it.”
Johnson always asks: What are you doing with those 60 seconds?
In the past two years, his 60-second moments have been as the New Maverick Orientation director. Before that, his 60 seconds were as the assistant director for Multicultural Affairs, now known as the Intercultural Student Engagement Center.
Relius Johnson is the youngest and first Black director in this role.
Throughout his time at UTA, he spent multiple 60 seconds supporting faculty and staff, inspiring generations of students and creating a welcoming space for everyone.
That journey, however, is coming to an end, as Johnson departs from UTA on Dec. 31.
“I’ve learned so much on how to support students, crisis management, budget management. I think this has prepared me for things in ways I didn’t even know,” he said. “It’s just so much learning. That’s why I’m grateful for my experiences at UTA.”
“I had a lot of other choices and could have left a long time ago, but I was like, ‘No.’ Something keeps pushing me to stay at UTA.”
Johnson said he doesn’t have his next destination yet, but he’s not stressing. After his last in-person day Nov. 15, he’s spending time with family and his grandmother.
Shabaz Brown, director of the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, said Johnson’s passion for serving students goes beyond the typical faculty or staff members.
When campus resources became limited, Brown said he used his own money to support struggling students. When the pro-Palestine encampment happened in May, Johnson was on campus from 6 a.m. and wouldn’t leave until around 10 p.m. to make sure students were safe and had everything they needed.
He spent more time on campus than at his own house, she said.
“I saw him moving out of his office. I said, ‘Why did you have an air fryer in your office?’ Because he literally would cook in his office. That’s how much he lives here,” Brown said. “An air fryer and a blender.”
Johnson started leading New Maverick Orientation in 2022, making him one of the Division of Student Affairs’ youngest and first few current Black directors.
The Division of Student Affairs doesn’t have many Black male directors, so figures like Johnson give Andre Clay, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. membership director, someone to admire.
“It just really gives you someone to look up to and keep you inspired as you’re trying to get through your college journey,” Clay said.
He called Johnson his biggest accountability partner who has been in his life from freshman year to his current senior year. Clay goes to Johnson not to feel good but to hear what he needs to achieve his goals, he said.
Lowell Davis, vice president for Student Affairs, said Johnson has had a wonderful impact at UTA, from his role at orientations and mentoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. members to going to India to engage with 400 students, families and individuals coming to the university.
“Dr. Johnson has made a tremendous impact at the University of Texas Arlington,” Davis said.
Brown and Johnson were the dynamic duo supporting and checking in on one another, she said. They’re not the spokespersons of the culture — they just want to represent and show students the culture and demonstrate to students what they can achieve.
“We’re both first-generation college students. We’re both the first people to go to college in our families. We’re both the first people in our families to even be at administrative levels, and we both were very fortunate to become directors before the age of 30, but that still comes with this set of intimidations,” Brown said.
At Johnson’s farewell party Nov. 14 in the University Center, more than a hundred students, faculty and staff stopped by to say goodbye.
Some had to leave early. Some stayed the entire time. But everyone had so many memories to share with Johnson, publicly and privately.
As each person shared their testimonials at the podium, they all had different memories of Johnson — how he saved them at their lowest points, how he had been a difference maker, how he helped them be comfortable taking up space and how he had impacted a faculty’s son who isn’t even a UTA student yet.
They all had their own story of Johnson, but one thing stood in common: He changed their lives.
There were hugs. There were smiles. There was weeping.
These people stayed with Johnson for hours — and some “threatened” to be in his life forever. All because he spent his 60 seconds with them.
Editor-in-chief Christine Vo contributed to this report.
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