Christopher Johnson, a Pleasant Ridge resident and history professor at Wayne State University, has received WSU's Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award for 1997. The award recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements that contribute significantly to the quality of the university's graduate programs.

Johnson has authored books both on modern European and on American history, with particular focus on the French and American working classes. He also has taught innovative courses in such varied subjects as the family, racism and comparative labor movements.

A faculty member since 1966, he is a past recipient of the university's President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and its Board of Governors Distinguished Faculty Fellowship, among other awards.

He holds doctoral and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor's degree from Wabash College.