Emma Diehl

Emma Diehl is a second-year graduate student in SPA’s MS Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (THSP) program. This year’s President of the School of Public Affairs Graduate Student Council, she previously served as the THSP program representative. 

Emma holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies, with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. She has previously published an undergraduate thesis titled “Hope is Not a Strategy: Challenging the Status Quo of How Colleges Are Handling the Campus Sexual Assault Crisis,” and spent her time in undergrad travelling to research conferences to teach students and professors how to properly advocate for sexual assault survivors. More recently, she has been researching national security issues, ranging from rising tensions in the South China Sea to the implications of technology in terrorists’ recruitment methods.

Outside of the classroom, Emma enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and her friends, exploring the city, and finding new docuseries. She also enjoys giving back to the community, having completed over 250 community service hours during her two years in undergrad, everywhere from a wolf sanctuary to the public school system. She currently works full-time at Arlington National Cemetery for a private U.S. Army contractor. 

Her goal for the SPA GSC this year is to include all degree programs equally, to ensure all students feel adequately represented.