Emily Easton, PhD

Emily's career in higher education has focused on building communities and strengthening pathways that lower barriers and encourage participation across student, professional, and science communities. Emily brings expertise in a wide range of student affairs issues, including student recruitment, professional development, engagement, retention, first-year student issues, and financial wellness, as well as experience in working with undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs in the physical, mathematical, and computer sciences. As the Associate Dean of Students in the University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division, Emily designed and implemented the Broader Impacts Fair to bring together scientists and local outreach opportunities, executed a highly successful strategy to increase NSF GRFP winners, and oversaw recruitment, engagement, and DEIB initiatives for 1400+ Master's, Ph.D. and non-degree students. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Illinois Chicago where her doctoral research explained how individuals, specifically freeform radio DJs, develop and maintain diverse musical tastes that span lesser-known artists and genres. Emily is also a founder of Girls Rock! Chicago and can occasionally be spotted around Chicago behind the decks. When she is not DJing in her spare time, she loves to spend time in her vegetable garden with her dogs, Dolly (Parton) and DeeDee (Ramone).

Emily will contribute to the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) by expanding and leading the CQE’s strategic education and workforce development efforts. She and her team will focus on strengthening existing programs, supporting the development of new initiatives, increasing participation with a focus on minoritized students and scientists, and training the quantum workforce. As CQE director of education and workforce development, she will be partnering and supporting initiatives throughout the CQE and looks forward to working closely with many of you to bring future and current scientists from all levels into the field.