Emma was born a leader, but the depth of her heart and her connection to the CooperRiis community have made her leadership special. Over the years, she has grown alongside the community, deepening her roots and becoming someone the people around her trust, respect, and genuinely care for.
In May 2021, she was promoted to Managing Director of the Farm Campus—a role she has embraced with the same warmth, dignity, and respect that have defined her CooperRiis journey from the very beginning. Emma’s years of dedication and steady presence have made her far more than a leader; she has become an important part of the heart and soul of the Farm Campus family.
Growing up on Ocracoke Island off the North Carolina coast, Emma developed a strong sense of community, which drives her to foster and build relationships wherever she goes.
Emma attended Guilford College, a Quaker-based liberal arts college in Greensboro, NC, where she majored in Peace and Conflict Resolution and minored in Community Building. She also served as a College Residential Advisor for three years and was heavily involved in the Campus Activities Board. Through internships in county court systems across the state, she gained experience in mediation and facilitation, which sparked her passion for helping people resolve interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts. Additionally, Emma has participated in two study-abroad programs in Denmark and Ghana, which provided her with an appreciation of cultural differences and enhanced her love of travel and adventure.
Emma is the mother of a young daughter and two dogs. She enjoys swimming in their backyard pool, thrifting, doing puzzles, taking pictures, and visiting her parents on the Outer Banks as often as possible.
Needless to say, Emma personifies Community and Mental Health Recovery.