John is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, at the University of Liberia where designed lessons and deliver lectures on fisheries governance. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Laws (LLD) under the South African Research Chair in the Law of the Sea (SARChI) at the Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. His research focuses on Liberia’s participation in global ocean governance with specific focus on Liberia’s flag state jurisdiction. He leads the Cavalla Institute of Ocean Governance (CI-OG), convening seminars on ocean governance, with focus on the sustainable blue economy in West Africa. John holds a Licence en Droit (LL. L) from the Universite Cadi Ayyad de Marrakech Morocco (Morocco-Liberia bilateral scholarship), a Master of Laws (LLM) specializing in International Law from the University of Cape Town, a Diploma in Law of the Sea from the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea (Korean Maritime Institute) and, a professional Certificate in Ocean Governance from the International Ocean Institute(IOI). In addition to the law of the sea, John also has expertise in Statehood and the right to self-determination in Africa, International Humanitarian Law and international Human rights Law.

His research enthusiasm has seen him participate both in international and local institutions. In 2024, he interned at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg, Germany. During his internship, John conducted research and drafted legal papers on issues under consideration by the legal office, including the most recent BBNJ Agreement under the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Beyond academics, John is a Mandela Rhodes Alumni, former President Nelson Mandela’s leadership program for young scholars and emerging leaders in Africa. At the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, John engaged in thorough leadership training and acquired skills on how to navigate complexities on the journey to system change.