Emma Zelenak lives in Albany, NY and received their bachelor’s degree in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies from the University at Albany in 2021. Committed to the application of feminist principles, Emma strongly believes that feminist research is instrumental to recognizing and addressing disparities in access to resources and opportunities and strives to apply these principles to every aspect of their work. Their expertise in feminist research is demonstrated in their oral history research documenting the experiences of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other impactful projects Emma has completed include their research on crisis pregnancy centers for local activism coalitions and their leadership on outreach and advocacy in Project SHAPE, a program at the University at Albany focusing on peer sexual health education.

Emma was honored during the University at Albany’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies 2021 Spring Celebration with the LGBTQ Studies award for outstanding academic engagement in LGBTQ Studies and graduated with honors. As a recent graduate, Emma seeks to continue to make an impact with their work and pursue their passion for providing access to comprehensive sexual health education.