Born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, Emelia experienced firsthand the challenges of limited access to academic resources; a reality that forced many of her peers, despite their immense potential, to abandon their professional dreams. Her perseverance was fueled by a strong faith in God, unwavering support from family and friends, and a deep calling to support youth in Ghana, across Africa, and around the world.

Emelia is an alumna of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she graduated with First Class Honors in BSc. Natural Resources and Range Management, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was honored with the Outstanding Master’s Student Award upon graduating with her MSc. in Biology. Her academic excellence and leadership have been widely recognized, earning her accolades such as the Huey Honorable Mention from the Society for Integrative Comparative Biology, first place in the 2025 National Association of State Department of Agriculture winter policy conference contest, and the UMass Amherst Chancellor's Emerging Leader Award. 

Emelia aspires to advance ecological research that informs science policy. Additionally, Emelia hopes to collaborate with changemakers worldwide to expand access to STEM education, especially for women and underprivileged youth.