Dr. Paulette Johnson
Head Cheerleading Coach
 Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson is one of our community’s most highly regarded citizens. A native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and a longtime resident of Petersburg, she is the eldest of two children born to Deacon Robert Melvin Walker and Elsie Cooke Walker of Petersburg, Virginia. She has one brother, Wayne Melvin Walker and his wife Gayer Whiting Walker and two nephews, Terry and Travis Walker who live in Accokeek, Maryland.
At the age of eight, she was baptized and joined the Little Zion Baptist Church in Carson, Virginia. Currently, she is a member of Zion Baptist Church in Petersburg, VA. She completed her primary and secondary education in the public school system of Petersburg, Virginia graduating with honor from Peabody High School as “Miss Peabody” in 1969.
She is also the proud mother of her son, Patrick Wayne Johnson. Patrick is an honor graduate of VSU (Class of 2004) who currently resides in Maryland.
Dr. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland and her Masters Degree from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. She later enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg,
Virginia and received her Doctorate Degree in Education.
Since her appointment as a member of the Health and Physical Education Department in 1974, she has received many other accolades as well. In the academic arena, for example, she is an acclaimed scholar, much sought after guest lecturer, and viable member of several professional organizations. A tenured associate professor in the HPER Department at VSU, she has continued to labor arduously to ensure that her students receive cutting edge instruction and quality advisement. She has continuously received outstanding student evaluations and other similar tributes from her peers and administrators. Dr. Johnson was most recently recognized for her outstanding achievement in teaching, research and public service as a 2002 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Achievement Certificate awarded by the State Council of Higher Education.
Dr. Johnson serves on several committees and boards throughout the university and the Tri-cities. She is a former member of the Petersburg Public School Board and the Board of Directors for the Southside Area YMCA.
Despite these extraordinary accomplishments, Dr. Johnson may be best known for her leadership of the nationally acclaimed VSU Woo Woo Cheerleading Team”. Her superior mentorship of this classy program has been applauded by local, regional, and national admirers during her 30 plus year coaching career.
The Woo Woos and Dr. Johnson have been featured on the BET television network, Urban Sports Network, ESPN and have had numerous appearances on local based television stations. Several years ago they performed at a boxing match staged by the legendary promoter Don King. Mr. King was so impressed with the way they mesmerized the audience that he was moved to make a financial contribution on their behalf to the VSU Athletic Department.
In addition to the aforesaid, the Honorable Rosalyn Dance, Mayor of the City of Petersburg, established “Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson Day” at halftime of VSU’s 1999 Homecoming game. On this occasion, Dr. Johnson received a standing ovation from what has been discussed as the largest Homecoming crowd in school history (estimated 12, 000).
Further, she was the first female athletic director in VSU history. As if this were not enough, she also coached her Lady Trojan softball team to win the first CIAA Softball Championship in the mid-1970’s. Dr. Johnson is a founding member of the CIAA Cheerleader Coaches Association.
When asked to what or whom does she attribute her success, she explains that she has always had the encouragement and unwavering support of a loving family. Dr. Johnson also quickly acknowledges that God is the center of her life and whatever she has accomplished is because of him.
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