Previous to this post Johnston served as the 27th president of Iowa Wesleyan College for six years, and as a lower level administrator at Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and Ashland University in Ohio.
Prior to this post, Johnston held the position of president at Iowa Wesleyan College for six years, as well as lower-level administrative roles at Bethany College, Davis & Elkins College, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and Ashland University.