By: Waylon Jones and Christie Oneill
What are the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) faculty and staff up to during the summer season? In this new series, Behind the Scenes with Campus Staff, we explore what goes on behind the quiet halls and empty classrooms while most of us are away from campus.
As we move further into the spring semester, we’re continuing this series with a professor’s reflection on their summer before the next one arrives.
Paul Johnson Jr is an Associate Professor of Psychology at UMPI. During the school year he takes the reins of online classes, in-person classes, campus activities and events, but what happens after final grades are submitted?
“One of the things I love about summer,” he explains, “is that I can actually engineer my time. It’s calm.”
His summer memories are not only calm. One of his favorite memories from the summer was full of energy and came with a twist of bittersweet pride.
Johnson has always run competitively and runs almost every day. This summer, that routine turned into friendly competition with his daughter.
“This was the year my daughter beat me more than I beat her,” he says with a laugh. “It broke my soul a little bit. It was bittersweet, though. I’m happy”.
While the results stung a bit, Johnson admits he was proud.
Of course, no “behind the scenes” chat would be complete without mentioning his iconic hats. As Johnson comes back to campus for the 2025 fall semester, returning students have noticed a change in his iconic persona.
“They’re still around!” he says with a chuckle and holding up the orange cap.
Between winding down, family runs, and changing up his signature look, Professor Johnson’s summer of 2025 was perfect.
“Some people thrive in chaos,” he says with a grin. “I don’t. I like to have my mojo the way I want it, and in the summer, I can.”
For Johnson, that sense of balance is what makes the season so rewarding.
