Emma Rowe
Fall 2025 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
College: Colorado Christian University
Degree: B.A. in Politics, Minor in History
Emma Rowe was born in Mansfield, Ohio, and was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her two younger sisters by two godly, supportive parents. She is a proud Classical Conversations graduate and participated in the homeschool program from preschool through high school graduation. Emma's love for learning, philosophy, and the art of politics started because of her holistic Classical Conversations education.
For three years in high school, Emma participated in TeenPact Leadership Schools in Tennessee. There, she was immersed in activities pertaining to lawmaking, elections, and the importance of Christian influence in the public sphere. In 2020, Emma won TeenPact's national Jimmy Brazell Community Impact Scholarship. These experiences sparked a flame in her to pursue a career in public service for the glory of God through the imperfect yet beautiful representative government tradition present in the United States.
Because of TeenPact, Emma prayerfully decided to major in Politics at Colorado Christian University and minor in History, studying under former JJI Fellow Dr. Gordon Dakota “Koty” Arnold. While at CCU, Emma worked as Student Staff for the Centennial Institute, which is Colorado Christian University's nonprofit public policy think tank. She assisted Centennial Institute staff in research projects, fundraising drives, and student involvement events. Additionally, Emma worked for the Centennial Institute during several conferences such as the March for Life, the Rocky Mountain Leadership Congress, and the 2023 Western Conservative Summit, where she met notable figures such as Tulsi Gabbard and Alliance Defending Freedom's Kristen Waggoner.
After receiving her B.A. in Politics and History, Emma is overjoyed to join the Fall 2025 class of John Jay Institute Fellows. She seeks a long-term career as an elected official in a State House of Representatives. In the meantime, Emma is excited to become a Fellow and bolster her knowledge, deepen her faith, and strengthen her love for America's founding principles despite the current political scene.