Charting a New Course: From Navy Officer to Legal Advocate

After years of service in the United States Navy, Susannah Johnson L’25 has found a new mission: using the law to serve her community. 

Johnson followed a non-traditional path to law school, serving as a Surface Warfare Officer for eight years before enrolling at RWU Law. Her time at sea cultivated a deep appreciation for the ocean and ultimately sparked her interest in ocean advocacy and maritime law.

As she considered her next steps after the military, a mentor encouraged her to explore the Marine Affairs Institute at RWU Law. “I started communicating with Professor Wyman while I was still in the Navy,” she recalls, “and it just really seemed to be an incredible program.”

Throughout law school, Johnson actively sought out experiences that deepened her understanding of the law, interning for Judge Patricia Sullivan, externing with a Dutch maritime construction company, and working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of General Counsel. She also served as a student editor for the Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce. 

Though she initially came to law school thinking she would pursue a job in the federal government or “something more classically aligned with the Marine Affairs degree,” she explains that “the beauty of a law degree is that it’s multifaceted.”

During her time in law school, Johnson felt her focus began to shift toward local community advocacy in light of the systemic challenges faced by marginalized populations. 

“In the Navy, I learned that a ship could only function if the crew was properly cared for,” she says. “The hierarchical structure of the Navy, combined with the inevitable stressors faced by service members, gave me extensive experience listening to and advocating for sailors dealing with housing or food insecurity, or disruptions to family life. That experience shaped my desire to be a voice for those in the community who may not have the resources or support they need.”

As Johnson considered her future, she recalls, “I realized that I can best serve by protecting our community’s wellbeing and fundamental rights right here in Rhode Island.”

To that end, this fall Johnson will begin a two-year Law Fellowship with the Rhode Island Center for Justice, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting the legal rights of vulnerable Rhode Islanders.

The opportunity resonated with her, she says, because it felt like the perfect “on-ramp to learn, to grow as a lawyer, and do good in the community—to continue be in service of some sort. I look forward to being a part of a team focused on protecting the legal rights of low-income people through grassroots, local advocacy, and participating in community-led efforts to address social and economic injustices.”

With graduation just a few weeks away, Johnson speaks fondly about her time at RWU Law. “It has just been such an incredible experience,” she says. “Being a little older as a student, I’ve found it to be an amazing place to grow and evolve. I’m very grateful for my time here.”

Johnson is the co-recipient of the 2025 Marine Affairs Achievement Award and the recipient of the 2025 William J. Coffey Excellence in Maritime Writing Prize.