Meet Carmen Johnson, food pantry coordinator for UNLV's food pantry. Carmen helps ensure daily operations run smoothly and that we serve the UNLV community with excellence. Her time at UNLV has been a very positive experience, largely because of the strong sense of community she has felt working there.
What is your favorite thing about working at UNLV?
My favorite part of working at UNLV is the opportunity to impact lives on a daily basis. For me, this work is more than just a job—it aligns with my purpose.
What inspires or empowers you?
The needs of the people are what inspire me. They empower me to do more and motivate me to seek out opportunities where I can positively impact someone’s life.
What issues are women facing today that you want to help solve, and how are you helping to solve that issue?
The issues women face today are not new—they’re challenges we’ve been confronting for decades. One of the biggest is not being fully seen or valued for who we truly are. The way I work to help address this is by striving to be a woman who inspires others. I want someone to be able to look at my journey and say, “If she can do it, I can do it too.”
What life lessons have you experienced recently or within the past few years that have really changed the way you look at life?
One life lesson I’ve recently learned is that things change—change is inevitable. You may feel like you’re at the lowest point one day, and then wake up the next day to a completely different situation. This reminds me to never give up and to keep striving, no matter where I currently find myself. What feels difficult or limiting today is only a temporary condition, not a permanent state.
Tell us about a woman who’s been a mentor to you.
My spiritual mother is the woman who has mentored me throughout my life. We met when I was 16 years old, when I began working for her as a babysitter. As I grew in my faith, she was there to guide me and “show me the ropes,” so to speak. She created a safe space for me to learn how to walk with the Lord and to activate the gifts God placed inside of me—gifts that are still active in my life today. Although this mentorship was spiritual in nature, the lessons she taught me continue to influence and shape my daily life as well.
Who is an unsung hero at UNLV?
This may sound a bit cliché, but I truly believe that every single person who has put their hand to the plow at UNLV is an unsung hero. We are all heroes in our own right. Every day that we wake up and come to work—whether we feel like it or not—we are making a meaningful impact on lives we may never fully see or know. In my book, we are all heroes… and she-roes.
Any advice for young women starting careers on campus?
My advice for young women starting their careers on campus is to be patient with yourself and to walk in humility. There are people here who have served this campus for decades, and what better opportunity is there to learn and grow than by humbling yourself under that kind of wisdom and experience? I would also encourage you to remain teachable, while still being confident in who you are and what you bring to the table.
You’re stuck between meetings with 30 minutes to kill on campus, what do you do?
If I’m stuck between meetings with about 30 minutes to spare on campus, I’m most likely sitting in my car. I really appreciate solitude and enjoy my own company, so I’ll usually just relax, listen to some music, and hang out there until it’s time for the next meeting.
What did you do the last time you took time off?
The last time I took off work, I ended up sleeping all day because I wasn’t feeling well.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I am an author and an aspiring playwright.
What trait do you most like about yourself?
My heart—it’s full of compassion.
If you could learn to master one thing, what would it be?
It would probably be my facial expressions, because they sometimes get me into trouble. I’d really like to learn how to control them better.