Emily Hardt  joined NEC after completing her doctorate in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2013, where she wrote her dissertation on the organizing forms and commitments of theTransition Towns movement in the northeast US. Emily also has a background in Feminist Studies and is currently teaching Women in Politics.

Prior to NEC, Emily worked in the labor movement from 2002 to 2012, first as an union organizer with the UFCW and later as the Director of the Women's Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), advancing diverse women's leadership in unions and economic justice organizations.

Emily was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and visits there as often as she can. She now makes her home in Somerville, where she enjoys seeing friends and neighbors at farmers markets, at community events, and while biking around town.