Emma Schwartz (MPP ‘27) works at the intersection of policy research and community engagement. She spent the past three years in applied policy research at the University of Southern Maine, partnering with state agencies and nonprofits to use data to improve how they serve their communities. Across multiple projects, she convened key interest groups to address systemic barriers that impact Maine youth who come into contact with the criminal legal system. In November 2024, she presented her team’s work using asset mapping in rural Maine to identify community-led solutions for resource investments at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention National Conference on Youth Justice. Emma brings a collaborative mindset and genuine curiosity about new ways to collect and interpret data to improve public systems. She aims to use her MPP to gain a deeper understanding of how state and local governments can partner with communities to foster growth, equity, and quality of life. Before she began her career in policy, Emma earned her BA in World Literatures and Jewish Studies from Smith College. Outside the classroom, she enjoys exploring urban trails on her bike or in her running shoes, cooking meals to share with friends, and getting lost in a good book.