What was your first job, and what did it teach you about yourself?

My first job was as a hostess at a local pizza restaurant in my hometown. This job taught me about how to serve in a very public-facing role and the patience, communication, and empathy required to succeed. I also appreciate the interdependent nature of working in a restaurant and how each component comes together to produce a quality dining experience. Those lessons in teamwork and coordination became foundational to my work ethic.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Emily Dunsmore serves as the Senior Manager of CareerBound. She is driven by her commitment to creating equitable pathways to economic mobility for Baltimore's youth and believes that every young person deserves access to transformative opportunities that honor their potential.

Prior to joining Baltimore's Promise in 2025, Emily built a diverse background in program management and public health, with a focus on youth development. She led workforce development and STEM pathway programs for Latinx immigrant youth at Centro SOL in Baltimore City, using data-driven approaches and collaborative decision-making to improve postsecondary outcomes. Emily also gained valuable experience as a Program Evaluation and Monitoring Intern at the Esperanza Center, enhancing healthcare access for underserved communities through strategic partnerships and culturally responsive program implementation.

Emily holds a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Implementation Science and Health Education from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she was recognized for her work on program implementation strategies to reduce inequities in STEM education opportunities. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior with a minor in Spanish from the University of California, Davis.

When not working, Emily can be found exploring Baltimore's neighborhoods, practicing Spanish, or diving into a new book from her second home, the Enoch Pratt Free Library. She approaches her work with creativity, analytical thinking, and a steadfast belief in the power of community partnerships to drive systemic change. 

Most importantly, to the students she has had the privilege to know, their endless innovation, enthusiasm, and joy have added meaning and purpose to her work. Every step of the way, the development of her career was shaped with them in mind.