Diane Johnson

Diane Johnson is an international relief and development expert having worked in varied settings for over 10 years including an additional three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Diane has been the Regional Program Director for the South Asia region of Mercy Corps since January 2004 and oversaw the Southeast Asia region for two years as well. Following Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. Gulf, Mercy Corps’ responded for the first time on a large scale to a domestic disaster and Diane has been overseeing Mercy Corps’ programs and operations in the Gulf Coast. Diane has worked with Mercy Corps since November 2002 in senior level management positions in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Central Asia and Sudan. This included the set-up of a large recovery program after the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia.

Diane has previously worked in senior management positions with International Rescue Committee and the International Organization for Migration in both relief and development settings in; Kosovo, Macedonia, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Indonesia and Afghanistan/ Pakistan. Diane was a Peace Corps Volunteer for three years n Niger, West Africa focused community development with a focus on women’s economic growth.

Domestically Diane managed a large community development non-profit in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (PEOPLES) consisting of a Mutual Housing Association, Community Development Credit Union, a Social Services unit focused on housing and immigrant rights and services to youth and the elderly. Diane has been a Social Worker in New Orleans with Association of Catholic Charities and GoodWill Industries and has experience in social work in Austin Texas with various agencies focused on mental health issues.

Diane holds two masters degrees; one in Community Economic Development/ Urban Planning from Pratt Institute, NY and a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Austin, Texas. Diane’s bachelor degree is in Psychology from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She has attended several renowned training courses including ‘ Saving Lives and Livelihoods’ with Tufts University; RedR Security Training for Management and SPHERE Humanitarian Guidelines training of trainers.

Diane's background in social work and experience in international development has led her to have a strong commitment to community social strengthening. As a co-founder of Project Rising Sun, Diane is manifesting a long-held desire to establish a community mental health program in New Orleans in partnership with her sister, Dr. Janet Johnson. Although residing overseas, Diane holds New Orleans home for nearly 20 years and is committed to using her wide range of experience in her hometown.