Ariyan becomes newest Faculty member at University of California, Irvine. She follows in the footsteps of Artists who also "Professor" like Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Esperanza Spalding, Tyra Banks and James Franco.

Ariyan Johnson received the grant from Pasadena Cultural Affairs and Commission for the March 2020 ArtNight concerning her interactive work - an African Diaspora theatrical presentation.

In January 2020, the Film Forum honoring Black Women: TrailBlazing African American Actresses and Images in Films and Ariyan Johnson was among great actresses like Pam Grier to be recognized for her work in the film Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.

Ariyan Johnson is the Artist-in-Residence grantee for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs for 2015-2016, 2017-2018 and 2019-2020.