Emily Amanda Johnson, 40, died August 20, 2022 with their loved ones at their side in Houston, Texas.

Emily was born July 22, 1982, in Texas City, Texas, to George and Kathryn Johnson. Growing up in Houston, Emily was an excellent student who prioritized and balanced their studies, their many extracurricular activities, and their close friendships at Clear Lake High School and Clear Lake United Methodist Church. They developed a passion for music, and played percussion in the high school band and sang in choirs both at school and in church.

Emily graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2004. Emily's beautiful operatic voice brought others to tears when they performed in choirs, concerts, and weddings, but they also loved singing along to the car radio or karaoke with their friends.

Ultimately, Emily dedicated their professional life to higher education. They earned a Masters in Educational Administration in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership in 2018, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Most recently, Emily was the Director of Academic Assessment at the California Institute of Integral Studies, while also serving as an adjunct professor of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Throughout their career, Emily served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, a Program Director at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Program Director of multiple initiatives within the College of Education at UT Austin, and published their work in edited volumes, journals, and textbooks.

Emily was passionate about social justice and the fight for social equity. Throughout their career, Emily used their platform to inform others about educational disparities in marginalized communities and how to rectify them. Emily always stood up for the rights of others, especially people of color and LGBTQ+ people. Emily will be remembered by their friends and family as a person who was never afraid to speak their mind and stand up for what they believed in.

Emily married Collin Williams in 2020 after several years of dating. Emily and Collin were an ideal match. They perfectly complemented each other with Emily's driven, dedicated personality and Collin's laidback, go-with-the-flow demeanor. They loved animals, adopting two rescue dogs together, Remus and Twiggy, and fostering numerous rescue dogs over the years to help them become adoptable to others. They both shared a love of board games and puzzles, collections of meaningful items, and spending time with loved ones. Collin and Emily regularly spent the weekends going to zoos and sanctuaries, parks, restaurants, and exploring the cities where they lived.

Emily is survived by their husband Collin Williams, their parents George and Kathryn Johnson, their brother and sister-in-law Evan and Ashley Johnson, their mother-in-law and father-in-law John and Mary Beth Williams, their sister-in-law and brother-in-law Shannon and Tony Furino, their dear friend Travis Stevens, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Emily gave the gift of life through organ donation. Donations in their honor and memory can be made at Equality Texas, Planned Parenthood, or Southern Pines Animal Shelter. A celebration of their life will be scheduled at a later date.