Myrna Johnson

Myrna Johnson has been Iowa Public Radio's Executive Director since January 2014. Under her leadership of the statewide network, IPR has experienced growth in fundraising, reach and audience. Her initiatives have included increasing IPR's news team statewide, establishing a western Iowa bureau, adding beat reporters and building both a digital team and digital services, including podcasts, newsletters and streaming services. In 2022, she led the successful transition in ownership of the 26-station IPR network from the Iowa Board of Regents to Iowa Public Radio, Inc., making IPR an independent community-based network.

Johnson's public radio experience includes working in the government affairs office of NPR for eight years (1987-1995), and serving on the Friends Board and then Board of Directors of KUNC-FM in Greeley, Colorado (1997-2005). While at KUNC, Johnson was involved in the successful 20-day $2 million campaign to purchase KUNC's license from the University of Northern Colorado, and was the board lead on the strategic planning process that outlined the plan for transitioning KUNC from a University licensee to a Community licensee.

Johnson's roles prior to joining IPR include serving as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Outdoor Industry Association, as Managing Director of the National Forum on Children and Nature, and as Executive Director of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, an initiative by the City of Boston to revitalize and green Boston's schoolyards. Johnson currently serves on the board of Public Radio in Mid-America (PRIMA), as a tri-chair of the Cultural Capital Committee of Des Moines Capital Crossroads Initiative and as President of the NEXUS Executive Women's Alliance.

Johnson grew up in northwest Iowa. She has a B.A. from Wartburg College and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.