04 Nov 2025 Person of the Month: JoVoni Johnson-McCray

JoVoni Johnson-McCray graduated from Conway High School with a 4.27 GPA and an ACT score of 34. When he was 4 years old, he received a bookcase with a brass plate on it that displayed his name. That was significant to him.

“Reading gave my imagination a place to grow,” he said. “It expanded my vocabulary, sharpened my articulation, and even improved my social interactions. The largest impact on my development, however, was the work that reading did for my imagination. Reading unlocked all the possibilities that the walls of reality guarded.”

Since the Bookcase Project was founded in 2005 by Jim Davidson, 1,000 bookcases have been given to HeadStart preschoolers. The project is overseen by the Kiwanis Club and is chaired by Richard S. Plotkin.

“Jim is a great friend of mine,” Johnson-McCray said. “Beyond our connection through the Bookcase Project, Jim and his wife have consistently shown up for things that matter to me, and that’s what truly makes them special. His passion for literacy and the drive he has for making reading accessible in our community are unmatched.” 

HOMETOWN:I grew up in Conway and lived in several different neighborhoods, attending multiple schools along the way: Ida Burns, Florence Mattison and Marguerite Vann Elementary Schools, and Ruth Doyle and Carl Stuart Middle Schools. Those were all before I attended Conway Junior High School and Conway High School. I will complete my master’s degree from Rice University in Houston in December.

FAMILY:Markiba Johnson (mother), Jasmine Wright (sister) and Johnathan Wright (brother). Margaret and Willie Johnson are my grandparents.

EDUCATION: I graduated from Conway High School. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Spanish from Rice University. I will graduate in December with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analysis from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.

AWARDS: I am a Ron Brown Scholar, a National AP Scholar, and a National Merit Scholar Finalist. I was named an Arthur Ashe National Male Athlete of the Year Semifinalist in 2023, which recognizes excellence on the field and in the classroom among all male NCAA athletes.

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AS QUARTERBACK FOR RICE UNIVERSITY? From 2019-22, I played quarterback for the Rice Owls. As a true freshman, I started in four games and scored two touchdowns in our final game of the year against UTEP. In my second year at quarterback, I led our team to victory over nationally ranked Marshall University (#15), marking Rice’s first — and still most recent — win over a nationally ranked opponent since 1997. In my final two years, I switched to wide receiver and recorded catches against the University of Texas and University of Houston before undergoing hip surgery that concluded my playing career. In my time at Rice University, we turned around the program from a 0-9 start in my true freshman year to consecutive bowl game appearances in my last years with the team.

WORK: Multiple internships in banking and financial services. I completed internships in New York City with American Express and the Federal Reserve in Houston, focusing on payments operations, fintech, and corporate banking.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I am an active member of Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ in Conway, and at The Fountain of Praise (TFOP) in Houston. I am a member of the Forge ministry for young men and No Boundaries young adults ministry at TFOP. In 2025, I launched the free JoVoni Johnson Youth Football Camp for boys and girls ages 6-12 in Central Arkansas. The camp introduces kids to movement as expression while also teaching the fundamentals of football. We also created a Family Zone featuring six local vendors to promote community and fellowship. With 16 Conway High School football alumni as coaches and more than 55 registered kids in our first year, I’m excited to grow the camp in the years ahead. I am also engaged in a nonprofit that my mother founded called Black Diamond Community Foundation, which hosts STEM events throughout the summer and college/career readiness events in the fall.

WHAT ROLE DOES FAITH HAVE IN YOUR LIFE? Faith is the pinnacle of my life and is the foundation of my confidence and purpose. My faith in God compels me to put my best foot forward in everything because I don’t want to squander the gifts He’s given me. It also holds me accountable and gives me purpose to live a life like Christ and direct others to the cross. With every platform, I aim to spread the love of God and live as a reflection of the peace, joy and mercy a relationship with God grants us. My faith is everything to me.

HOBBIES: I have recently gotten into hiking as a hobby. This past month, I summited Volcán Acatenango, a 13,000-foot volcano in Guatemala. I also enjoy reading, golfing, cooking and creating content. I post food reviews on TikTok (@datd00d).

NAME YOUR THREE FAVORITE BOOKS: This is a VERY difficult question, but my three favorite books I’ve read this year are: “The Half Never Told” by Edward Baptist, “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides, and “The Adversary” by Michael Crummey.

TELL US YOUR FUTURE PLANS: As I am wrapping up the MBA program at Rice University, I am actively recruiting for roles in banking and financial services, with interests in fintech and payments innovation. In the meantime, I’m traveling and enjoying new experiences before beginning my full-time career.