This fall, the Bryan County News will publish profiles of 20 outstanding individuals from Bryan County under the age of 40 who work and study across a range of disciplines. Each person has answered a short Q+A as part of their selection. Answers edited for length and clarity.

Name: Emma Griffin

Age: 24 years old

Title: Second-year law student at Harvard Law School

Background: “I am from Richmond Hill, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2024. While pursuing my passion for journalism, I worked as a reporter for the Bryan County News, where I primarily covered City Council meetings and gained firsthand insight into local government. At the same time, I worked in Senator Jon Ossoff’s Savannah office, where I developed a broader understanding of state and federal government. These experiences ultimately sparked my interest in the legal field, and I now attend Harvard Law School, where I plan to graduate in 2028.”

Personal/professional plans: “Looking ahead, my personal and professional goals are rooted in a desire to continue serving the communities that first inspired me to pursue public interest work. Growing up in Savannah and later working in local journalism and policy advocacy taught me how deeply local government and public policy can shape people’s everyday lives. At law school, I hope to build on those experiences by developing the skills to advocate for coastal communities as climate change brings more frequent flooding, stronger storms, and other environmental challenges. I currently work to conduct legal research on changing administrative goals and procedures that impact environmental justice.

Growing up in Savannah, I saw firsthand how vulnerable coastal communities can be to flooding and extreme weather, which sparked my interest in the intersection of environmental policy, local government, and community resilience. My experiences in journalism, policy advocacy, and now law school have strengthened my desire to work at that intersection and help communities develop effective, equitable strategies to prepare for a changing climate. Ultimately, I hope to build a career using the law and public policy to protect coastal communities, particularly those most vulnerable to the effects of flooding, while remaining connected to and giving back to the Georgia communities that first inspired these goals.”