Provost Kristina Johnson moments before leading her new colleagues into Freshman Orientation. Photo by Will Kirk/HIPS

Freshman Convocation was designed as an introduction to Johns Hopkins for all new Homewood students, but they weren't the only ones getting a crash course this year.

Kristina Johnson, on her second official day as provost of Johns Hopkins, arrived on campus Sept. 2 straight from the airport — flying in from the West Coast, where she'd been attending a conference — and two hours later was in the Shriver Board Room to don her academic regalia, receive the Johns Hopkins mace and lead her new colleagues from there to the auditorium to greet the 1,211-member Class of 2011.

After settling into her new home on Labor Day, the provost was running full-steam ahead during her first week, when her packed calendar included chairing Academic Council meetings at the School of Nursing, Homewood and SAIS.

"I am very excited to be at Johns Hopkins," Johnson said on Friday, as her busy week came to a close. "It's an amazing place with infinite possibilities. The students, faculty and staff are impressive, and the tone at the top set by our president is one of our community as family."

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