Emma graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2025 with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. During that time, she volunteered in the Martinez Lab conducting bird identification transects in the Santa Cruz Mountains and assisted with data collection and processing in the Palkovacs Lab under Georgia Third, a PhD Student who is focused on understanding ecological systems that support sustainable fisheries.

Growing up in Mt. Shasta, Emma spent summers rafting sections of the Klamath River and exploring many creeks and rivers in the surrounding area. These free time activities, cultivated by her famil,y have shaped her current career path and will continue to inspire her passion for environmental sustainability.