Emily joined the MacArthur Foundation after serving as in-house counsel at The Oprah Winfrey Foundations for more than 7 years, where her responsibilities ranged from providing counsel to Oprah’s Angel Network to advising on legal issues related to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Emily’s legal career started as a Skadden Fellow at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Emily received her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, and her law degree from Duke University School of Law. Emily also received a master's degree in social policy and non-profit management from Brandeis University.