Emma was born and raised in San Diego, California. She attended the University of California, San Diego, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and a minor in Chinese Studies. She continued her education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned her doctoral degree in Special Education. Emma taught middle school special education and English Language Arts classes in the Bay Area of California for five years, before moving to Seattle in 2024 with her family. When she's not at work, Emma loves to spend time with her husband and two young children. She loves to cook for others, read science fiction and fantasy novels, be outside in nature (gardening, walking, hiking), and sleep.