#BehindBauer: Bria Johnson

New York City might be Bria Johnson’s birthplace, but Houston is home.

Johnson (BBA ‘15) left the Big Apple for the Bayou City to pursue an undergraduate degree at the C. T. Bauer College of Business, and she’s now put down roots as a staff member for the college, where she serves as Director of Alumni Relations.

In the latest installment of our new #BehindBauer series, we’re continuing to introduce you to the people behind Bauer to learn more, not only about what they do at the college but why they do it, too (and learning some fun facts along the way).

Q: If you could describe your role in five words, what would it be?

A: “Connectivity, relationships, networking, building and community.”

Q: When you applied for your job, what interested you most in the role?

A: “The opportunity to provide for the school that gave me so much, and being able to interact with their students, connect them with our alumni who are doing wonderful things in different places, and just being a part of that process of networking and plugging people in where they need to be.”

Q: You are a Bauer staff member who works with alumni, but you are also an alumna yourself. You moved from out of state to attend Bauer. Where did you come from and what was that transition like? 

A: “I am originally from Queens in New York. That transition was jarring. It is a very different culture. It is so hot here. I am so thankful that I was able to get on campus and make a name for myself. College life, and especially Bauer, had a great community and family feel. By the time I graduated, I wanted to stay in Houston so now this is like home.”

Q: How is it now having family down here with you and what is it like having that support? 

A: “It is wonderful to be close to family, being able to create new memories for them in a new city. I am very close to my nieces and nephew. I have cousins, aunts, uncles here and my mother does not live too far away either. It is nice to have that connection to family in a city you love.”

Q: You attended UH for your undergrad and your masters. You have worked on campus and now you are an active member of the alumni community. What is one thing students or alumni might not know about the UH staff? 

A: “I think students don’t realize a lot of the faculty and staff have been in their shoes before. Even if they did not go to UH, a lot of staff members have that college experience and those same struggles. I would say just be aware that the staff is here to support you. We want to support you and we have great advice for you to use in your career.”

Q: You have worn a lot of hats at UH, if one celebrity would embody UH, who would you say it would be? 

A: “I would have to say Beyonce Knowles-Carter. She is a native Houstonian, everyone knows who she is, she is diverse, she is community focused, she is great at everything she does, and I think that encompasses what UH is all about.”

Q: You like to explore the city you call home, what would you say is the best food that you have had here? 

A: “Some of the best food I have had, it is hard to choose, is a Persian restaurant. It has such good flavor and spices. That is some of the best food I have had here.”

Q: What about home in New York? 

A: “The best food in New York can be found in my grandmother’s kitchen. She makes the best of everything from scratch. Her food is the best. She makes curry chicken, roti, fresh bread, pea soup, literally everything she makes taste like the best meal you have ever had.”

Q: What is your go to karaoke song? 

A: “Love on the Brain by Rihanna and also Killing Me Softly by the Fugees.”

Q: You talked about being very family oriented. If you had to choose one family member to spend time with, who would it be and what are they like? 

A: “My uncle Riley, who is also a UH alum, is the most fun to hang out with. He is just so young at heart. He has fun in nature, he is always happy to see the family, cooking, singing, and trying to make everyone laugh. He is the person who is always fun to be around.”

Q: After all these years at UH, what is your favorite tradition? 

A: “My favorite tradition is when we are at the basketball games and when we are winning, we start shaking our keys to let the other team know it is time to pack it up.”

Q: The Bauer alumni network is so large, what is the best way for alumni to stay connected with the college and with each other? 

A: “The best way for our alumni to stay connected is to get involved with our Bauer College Alumni Association. Even if you are coming to events, that is one option, or getting more involved by volunteering is another option. The other thing is just to update your LinkedIn. Let us know how to stay in touch with you and where you are working. There are so many ways that we can help our students if we are updated on where we are out and we can help in all the right ways.”