Emma Davison ‘21 Named Class of 2021 Valedictorian

Emma Davison '21 headshot

The political science and Middle Eastern studies double major and New Jersey native will deliver the valedictory address at Commencement

Emma Davison '21 has been selected to deliver the Class of 2021 valedictory address at the Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 21.

Emma is a political science and Middle Eastern studies double major with a concentration in peace and conflict studies, chair of Pax Christi, a chapter of the Catholic organization for promotion of world peace Pax Christi International, and president of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society. She served as a Gateways Orientation leader and was the Head Orientation Leader this past year. She is from West Caldwell, N.J.

While at Holy Cross, Emma was an intern with the Donelan Office of Community Based Learning and was a Multicultural Peer Educator, engaging with staff and students on topics of community engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion. Both a Dana and a Kenneth Rene Desmarais Scholar, Emma spent the fall 2019 semester studying Arabic in Amman, Jordan. 

Since joining the Worcester community, Emma has served as a Teaching Assistant at Woodland Academy, a volunteer with the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker, and most recently as a member of the Worcester Together Coronavirus Task Force, working to assist those impacted by the public health crisis.

Following graduation, Emma will begin a full-time position as a Government Relations Associate with L3Harris Technologies, an aerospace and defense technology company that she first interned with as part of the College's Washington Semester Program. She plans to continue studying Arabic at the Middle East Institute and hopes to eventually attend graduate school to study evolving threats to international stability including the climate crisis and nuclear proliferation.

Emma was selected as valedictorian from a group of academically outstanding members of the senior class, each of whom submitted speeches for consideration. The Valedictorian Selection Committee — composed of students from the senior class, faculty members and administrators — reviewed the submissions, and the final selection was made by Margaret Freije, Provost and Dean of the College.

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