Emily grew up as an 'Army brat' by the age of eighteen, she'd moved more than nine times, attending three different elementary schools, two middles schools, and four high schools. She refers to Heidelberg, Germany as her 'home,' as it is the place where she graduated from high school and met her husband, also a fellow Army brat. Upon graduating from high school, Emily's undergraduate experience was far from typical. She began at West Virginia Wesleyan College, running on their cross-country team and studying English. Following a knee injury and subsequent surgery, she transferred to the University of South Carolina, where her passion for animal science was ignited. She worked as a veterinary technician at local clinics, volunteered with local rescue groups, and completed an independent research study on West Lowland Gorillas, under Dr. Robert Raguso's direction. After two years of studying at USC, Emily married her high school sweetheart, a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, (currently deployed to Iraq) and transferred to UNCP. At UNCP, Emily was given the opportunity to do analytical chemistry research under Dr. Paul Flowers, both for a spring semester and on a summer fellowship through the NOAA-ISET program. In December 2007 a book co-authored by Emily and two retired Army chaplains, Richard Kuhlbars and James Daniels, entitled Silent Wounds: The Hidden Cost of War was published. The book presents the latest research and statistics concerning suicide by American veterans, as well as the story of a deployed soldier and his wife. Written from real emotions and experiences, Silent Wounds captures the reality of the struggle of soldiers and their wives, as well as the hope that comes through healing. Emily's non-fiction essay about the human-canine bond, Kindred Companions, was also published in UNCP's ReVisions in Spring 2008. Emily graduated in May 2008 with two bachelor degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

At UNCP, my professors, spanning through both the liberal arts and the sciences, were far more concerned that their students gained an understanding for the topic they taught, than they were about providing masses of information for students to memorize. In my chemistry and biology labs, professors took time to explain processes, show me how to use equipment, and calculate values on my own. In my writing courses, professors took the time to meet individually with me, discuss my writing, my ideas, and my progress. What did I learn from these professors? They taught me that the pursuit of a college degree represents far more than the achievement of a high grade point average or a distinguished diploma, but rather a fervent effort to gain knowledge and an undying passion for education.

Never give up on yourself. You will meet those who tell you that you don't have what it takes to achieve your greatest dreams. Ignore them. Hold your head up high, and know in your gut, that whatever your dream is, YOU have all you need to achieve it within yourself. What does this mean in the practical sense? It might mean studying organic chemistry for two hours every day until it is second nature, or hiring a tutor for that difficult physics course. It might mean staying in more Friday nights, or spending your Saturdays in the library. Whether you achieve your dream or educational goal, is entirely up to you. Once you determine what your passion or goal is, commit to the journey of attaining that goal, and remember that the only factor determining whether or not you achieve your goal, is YOU.

In August 2008, Emily began the four year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at North Carolina State's College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh. Upon graduating from veterinary school, she would like to pursue research related to the human-canine bond and animal welfare, as well as perform the traditional duties of a veterinarian. She also plans to write children's stories and non-fictional pieces concerning the human-canine bond. Emily describes her life's passion as a relentless quest to significantly increase the quality of life for both humans, and humankind's unrivaled best friend, the canine.