Washington University Senior Ella Johnson Dies at 21; Remembered for Compassion, Talent, and Advocacy

ST. LOUIS — The Washington University community is mourning the loss of Ella Elizabeth Johnson, a 21‑year‑old senior majoring in psychological and brain sciences and Spanish, who died on January 14, 2026, following a prolonged battle with mental health challenges.

A native of Belmont, Massachusetts, Ella was remembered by classmates, mentors, and family for her compassion, artistic talent, and academic excellence. Her roommate, Isa Arzeno, described her as “the most selfless and generous person I have ever met.”

Ella’s journey reflected both achievement and dedication. She attended Shady Hill School in Cambridge before graduating from Belmont High School in 2022, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She received the Harvard Prize Book Award for scholarship and character, and was recognized as a Gold Key Scholastic Scholar for her outstanding visual art.

At Washington University in St. Louis, Ella excelled in research, contributing to the Lifespan Lab and the Emotion and Mental Health Lab. She earned the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience award, praised by mentor Alison Tuck for her innovative ideas on parental behavior and adolescent social media use. Her academic and professional aspirations centered on supporting youth mental health, reflected in her internship at Centro de Salud San Antonio in Cusco, Peru, and her study abroad experience in Madrid.

Beyond academics, Ella was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she championed its partnership with Active Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing mental health awareness. Sorority sister Zoe Ademuyiwa recalled her sensitivity and kindness, noting how Ella would rush to comfort friends in distress.

Her passions extended to music, fashion, and the arts — she curated playlists, thrifted stylish outfits, and enjoyed cats, museums, and hiking.

Ella is survived by her parents, Mark Johnson and Jane Clayson Johnson; siblings William, Kristina Cahill, Mark Jr., and Kathryn Gulisane; and her grandparents. A celebration of life is planned at Washington University, with funeral services scheduled for Saturday, January 24, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The family has requested donations to the Ella Elizabeth Johnson Fund for Mental Health at WashU, encouraging acts of kindness in her honor. Her legacy will live on through her contributions to research, her advocacy for mental health, and the compassion she shared with everyone around her.

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