Paine College Educator Selected for Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowship

Dr. Dan B. Johnson Jr. who serves as chairperson of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences, Education and Media Studies and assistant professor at Paine College has been selected for an Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowship by the Television Academy Foundation in Hollywood. He is one of 18 professors selected from colleges and universities nationwide for the 2026 fellowship program.

Since 2021, the Foundation has offered Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowships, established by the Harry & Judy Friedman Family Foundation, in honor of the late television icon and Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, which provide financial support for educators from community colleges and minority-serving institutions to attend its annual Media Educators Conference. The three-day conference, held at the Television Academy’s North Hollywood campus in California, Oct. 21-23, connects college classrooms with the television industry by providing media professors with curriculum-enhancing seminars on the latest in the art, science and business of television with prominent leaders in entertainment.

With experience spanning higher education, television production, digital media and storytelling, Johnson is passionate about bridging the gap between academic instruction and professional media practice. Through his leadership at Paine College, Johnson is committed to expanding opportunities for aspiring media professionals, particularly students attending historically Black colleges and universities. He views media education as an opportunity to equip students with the technical expertise, critical thinking skills and creative confidence necessary to become influential storytellers and industry leaders.