Grad’s ‘twists and turns’ leading her to New York Philharmonic

Kiyomi Johnson is excited to move back to New York City after graduating from Earlham College to start her career as a special events associate with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She’s excited to pursue this new path, but the museum studies major admits it was an unexpected pivot.

Most of Johnson’s academic career at Earlham College has been STEM focused. Her major has a biology focus. She interned with Smithsonian Environmental Research Center three different times and she even worked with Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College’s natural history museum, for two years. 

But she’s always loved the arts and has worked with and started various organizations on campus growing her skillset in event planning, advocacy and leadership. 

“My career path has taken twists and turns, and Earlham has supported me in trying everything,” she said. “I’ve had so many different opportunities to try different things that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere.” 

“My career path has taken twists and turns, and Earlham has supported me in trying everything. I’ve had so many different opportunities to try different things that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere.” 

Kiyomi Johnson

During her time at Earlham, Johnson served as the cultural liaison for the Campus Store, was the founder and president of the Student Advisory Council for the Black Student Experience and president of the Student Activities Board. She also worked in Runyan Center and as a resident assistant.

As founder of the Student Advisory Council for the Black Student Experience, Johnson worked with a trio of students to launch the Hair Affair on campus during her junior year. The initiative brought stylists to campus from Dayton, Ohio, and Indianapolis who cut and styled students hair for free. In a separate role as the cultural liaison to the campus store, she made Black haircare products available to students not commonly found in local stores.

“Doing hair is a very communal activity,” Johnson said. “In my experience, hair doesn’t get done alone, hair gets done by and around friends and family or you go to a salon. Either way, there are always good times and plentiful conversation.” 

Johnson believes these roles are what gave her the leg-up when applying for her position with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Johnson will be working for the prestigious organization as their prospect research associate, which includes a lot of responsibilities related to event management. 

As a violinist and lover of music, she’s excited for this change in direction. 

“I like to consider myself a jack-of-all-trades sort of person and Earlham has really nurtured that. If I could describe Earlham by one word it would be open or welcoming — everything I have tried is something they have supported me in.” 

Johnson will graduate with the Class of 2024 on Saturday, May 11. Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Druley Performance Gym in the Athletics and Wellness Center.

For more information about commencement, visit earlham.edu/commencement.

Story written by Kelsey Mackey.

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About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.