Emma Potts is a research intern at the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK). Hailing from the southern Chicagoland area, Emma Potts is a member of Columbia University’s Class of 2024, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and East Asian Languages & Cultures. Passionate about fostering cross cultural understanding, she aspires to pursue a career in international education, non profit work, or diplomacy. Her interest in global interconnectedness was sparked by her participation in the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), through which she is a double alumna–having completed both a transformative summer in Seoul and a year of language immersion at a Korean high school. Emma returned stateside with a revitalized passion for diplomacy at all levels, including citizen diplomacy’s people-to-people exchanges.

As an intern at HRNK, Emma hopes to support research and advocacy efforts related to human rights in North Korea, while deepening her understanding of critical issues and learning from both the HRNK staff and her fellow interns.

In January 2026, Emma will embark on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Fellowship in South Korea.