It is with sadness and respect that the family of Dr. Emily S. Davidson announces her passing after a brief illness on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at the age of 69. Emily was born on June 19, 1948 in Greensboro, N. C. to Frank and Margaret Snodgrass. She grew up in Bennettsville, South Carolina with her sisters, Ann Parish, (now in Midland, TX) and Barbara Snodgrass (now in Austin, TX), and her brother, Rick Snodgrass (now in Duluth, GA). She is preceded in death by her parents.
Dr. Emily Davidson earned her B.A. in Psychology from Southern Methodist University in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Clinical and Developmental Psychology from State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1975. She taught at Vanderbilt University before joining Texas A&M in 1980. She served as Director of Graduate Studies for over 12 years. She was the recipient of a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1986, Diversity Award in 1992 and the University Honors Teacher-Scholar Award in 1996. During her time there, she received numerous letters of recognition and gratitude from students. Graduate students in the department of psychology will remember her work on their behalf in the years when she was DGS.
Emily loved to travel and made life-long friends while teaching in TAMU’s Study Abroad programs in both England and Asia. While her health permitted, she used to travel to New York for theatre and ballet and to Houston for the opera. Her tastes were broad: she was a devotee of the arts, and a regular attendee at B/CS music, dance, and theatre events, and in recent years she had season tickets to TAMU women’s softball games and Austin Opera and Symphony.
Emily was always an advocate. In the middle 1980s, when it was not fashionable, she was instrumental in building a supportive setting for people living with AIDS. She sat on the TAMU Institutional Review Board for many years, reviewing research proposals involving human subjects, balancing complex ethical considerations.
Emily was a gardener and was notorious in the neighborhood for her spring flowerbeds of tulips and daffodils.
She was a devoted, caring, and much-loved sister and friend who will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Brazos Valley Food Bank, 1501 Independence Ave, Bryan, TX 77803, or the charity of your choice.
The family will receive guests at Emily’s home on Saturday, June 16, from 3:00 to 5:00. Please call Callaway-Jones Funeral Home for additional information.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com.
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In the spring, we always loved walking to our fence and looking in at Emily’s back yard where tulips and daffodils bloomed, a bright splash of color after winter gray. Very sad news. Our sympathy, Rose & Terry
I worked with Emily the last 7 years of her career at A&M, and I always enjoyed our chats. She was a strong, opinionated woman, very intelligent and challenging, and I loved that about her. I was sorry to see her retire and sad that she didn’t have more time to enjoy her retirement. She will be missed.
My condolences on your loss.
Emily was a colleague in the psychology department ever since I arrived in 2000. She was always very supportive and a champion for our graduate students. We are indebted to her for many years of teaching and shepherding. May she rest in peace.
I knew Emily from the time I arrived at TAMU in 1990. She was a warm, funny, and caring individual who supported others and cared about their welfare. I recall a particular act of kindness when I had to have a breast biopsy. She had been through breast cancer and knew how fearful I was of having the surgery. She sent me beautiful flowers, which I appreciated immensely. Very thoughtful and kind. I will miss her.
My prayers go out to Emily’s family. What a loss to them and to all who knew her and appreciated her quick wit and ready smile. She was passionate about her causes and numbers of students she guided over many years. She will be sorely missed.
I learned of Emily’s passing today with deep sadness. My prayers go out to her family and those who were closest to her. I was one of the many graduate students who admired, respected and appreciated her. I served as a teaching assistant for her at least one semester and learned how loved she was by her undergraduate students as well. Emily went out of her way to shepherd me while I was fighting brain cancer, a demonstration of kindness and compassion that I will never forget. She was a truly beautiful soul. Rest in peace, dear Emily.
I am so sad today to learn from another former student of Dr. Davidson passing.
She was an amazing professor in every way. She expected your best, and helped you reach your best. And she was there for me personally when my mom suffered a fatal accident.
Godspeed, Dr. Davidson! I will always be grateful for my time with you, and I will always carry you with me.
I didn’t know Emily had died. She came to mind today and I Googled her.
Emily was a grad student at Stony Brook when I was a young faculty member in the clinical psychology program. I remember her as a bright and engaging young woman who helped make that pioneering program exciting and innovative.
I’m very saddened.