Evan Johnson

Graduate Assistant, MPA Program
The Evergreen State College

A graduate student in Evergreen’s Master of Public Administration Program, Evan took an unusual path to the Sustainability in Prisons Project, one that makes him an excellent asset. Born in Portland, Oregon, he struggled through his early years with substance use, truancy and running away, which ultimately landed him in Sagewalk, a wilderness school for troubled teens. There, he developed self-confidence and skills to live sustainably, especially a deep love of the natural world. After studying performing arts and social sciences in Portland, Evan earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Evergreen in 2003. Drawn outdoors, he worked several years for Washington State Parks as a commissioned law enforcement ranger and manager of the environmental learning center in Millersylvania State Park. During his time with SPP, Evan helped the Department of Corrections improve the sustainability of its facilities through carbon footprint studies, strategic planning and reporting with Deputy Director Dan Pacholke and Sustainability Coordinator Julie Vanneste.