Colleagues and friends share memories
Professor, friend, wife, mother, animal lover, mentor, vivacious, selfless, generous and caring. These are just a few of the many words used to describe Dr. Michelle Johnson-Vela.
Johnson-Vela passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, a loss felt campus wide by students, faculty and staff.
She began working at Texas A&M University Kingsville in 2002 serving as an Assistant Professor of Spanish before becoming an Associate Professor in 2006.
In her more than 20 years of teaching and service to the university, she also served as Chair of the Language and Literature Department for nearly a decade. Her husband, Dr. Roberto Vela Cordova is current chair of the department.
She published several articles and presented at conferences worldwide.
Johnson-Vela made TAMUK a home for many.
“I come from India and for 11 years I was in Florida, but Florida never felt like home. And the reason why South Texas feels like home, Kingsville and this university feels like home, is because of her,” Associate Professor of English Dr. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay said.
Mukhopadhyay met Johnson-Vela in 2016, and would later be hired by her.
“The reason why she mattered so much is she didn’t wait to see how other people reciprocated, she just shared her love and that you don’t necessarily get to see in a lot of people. She was always generous,” he said.
In her more than two decades at the university, Johnson-Vela made many friends.
“From a personal perspective, Michelle was a wonderful friend and confidant. She was gracious and generous with her time and any wisdom she might offer from a friend’s perspective. She was playful and a great deal of fun to be around,” Dr. Pamela Wright, Associate Professor of English, said.
Wright recalled dancing to Michael Jackson’s “PYT” and singing George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” with her, just a few of the precious memories she will cherish of her dear friend and mentor.
She was described as a professor who cared deeply for her students. When they cried, she cried with them.
“Often, when I passed her in the hallways, her arms were full of brownies, cookies, doughnuts, pastries. She fed her classes knowledge and sweets at the same time,” Dr. Cathy Downs, retired professor of English, said.
“Michelle believed if we all worked together the world would be a better place. I remember walking with the marchers on Cesar Chavez Day, and of course Michelle was there, saying ‘Si, se puede,’” Downs said
Johnson-Vela was a mother to her children, whom she often mentioned in the classroom.
“She and I shared the experiences of growing in our careers while raising our children. Watching her manage a large family and her career was inspiring. We were Assistant Professors juggling pregnancy, early motherhood, and the tenure process together. Having a friend who faced similar challenges was such a help; we could commiserate and laugh through it all,” Dr. Shannon Baker said.
A friend to her for 20 years, Baker said her friendship helped her grow not only professionally but personally.
“It is clear from the thoughtful tributes shared by her colleagues and students, Dr. Michelle Johnson-Vela embodied a selfless dedication to her students, her scholarship and to Texas A&M-Kingsville. Her service to TAMUK included leading the Department of Language and Literature for nearly a decade and also included serving as interim director of the Center for Teaching Effectiveness. Through her more than 20 years at our university, Dr. Johnson-Vela touched countless lives and her legacy will live on in the students she taught and mentored. I extend my deepest condolences to her family and friends,” Dr. Robert Vela Jr., university president, said.
A memorial scholarship in her honor for Spanish majors has been established by her family to carry on her legacy.
