She teaches human dimensions of forestry and researches coupled human and natural systems pertaining to natural resource management. Her research spans urban and rural settings, and she uses many methods including qualitative inquiry and both predictive and computational modeling. Emily holds an MS in Natural Resources Science and Management from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Forestry from the University of Maine. Prior to working at Michigan State University, Emily was a Research Forester at the USDA Forest Service, working on the National Woodland Owner Survey as part of the Northern Research Station.