Emma attended Kenyon College and focused on environmental studies and biology. Since graduating in 2019, she has worked as a professional sailor, primarily as the first mate on offshore adventures with 59 North Sailing. Over the last few years, she has crossed the Atlantic twice, sailed up to the high Arctic in Svalbard, and sailed over 20,000 ocean miles.

Emma got her start sailing on the Hudson River with Croton Sailing School and the sloop Clearwater. She sailed as a student and deckhand with SEA, worked on traditional wooden boats at Gannon & Benjamin, and recently captained a Broadreach voyage with high schoolers in the Caribbean. She has also often worked as an environmental educator and social media manager, and she currently co-hosts the sailing podcast On the Wind. Emma recently bought her own sailboat, a Navy 44, which she is currently refitting for living aboard and sailing on to more adventures.