Emily Horton, PhD.
Board Director
Environmental Social Scientist
Emily has dedicated her career to addressing complex socio-ecological challenges in a collaborative, creative, and transdisciplinary manner. She has worked across government, academic, and nonprofit sectors in the U.S. and Latin America, including in Paraguay as a Peace Corps environmental educator and grant-writer for a conservation nonprofit.
In Washington, Emily has contributed to the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program, worked as an equity specialist for the Washington Department of Health, and supported the Puget Sound Partnership’s Human Wellbeing Vital Signs through Oregon State University. Currently, she serves as a social scientist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs Program and on the Science Advisory Committee for the Northwest Straits Commission.
Emily earned her PhD in Integrative Conservation and Anthropology from the University of Georgia in 2020, while serving as a Knauss marine policy fellow and partnership specialist with NOAA’s National Sea Grant Program. Her doctoral research in a Brazilian marine reserve examined the relationship between sustainable fisheries governance and local food systems, knowledge, and wellbeing.
Emily is honored to serve on the Salish Sea Alliance Board, where she can collaborate with others in protecting and restoring the health of the Salish Sea. As a resident of Guemes Island, she feels a deep commitment to care for this beautiful region. Outside work, Emily enjoys creating nature-inspired art, all-things-food, and exploring beaches with her husband, kiddo, and human-herding Australian shepherd.