Designer Genes
Matt Johnson, senior in interior architecture and product design, pointed a sure finger at two men who taught him about being the man he became.
Born in Memphis, Tenn., and raised in Omaha, Neb., Johnson described his upbringing as cookie cutter. He grew up in a suburban home with his mom, dad, older sister and pet cat named Ebony, more affectionately known as Eb.
The first familial relationship Johnson noted was with his dad. Mark, a bone biologist specializing in osteoporosis research, was one of the most influential people in Johnson’s life.
“I just remember really looking up to my dad,” he said. “He was just that person, the ‘Han Solo,’ the ‘Indiana Jones.’ He’ll forever be that type of person to me. He just did all this stuff. He was a scientist, but he was also my Sunday school teacher. He played sports all growing up. He played baseball. He played basketball. He golf’s. He’s never been exceptionally good at anything, but he’s always been good at everything.”