Emily Navarrete is a policy wonk with a passion for helping others. As she views it, the two go hand in hand: good policy propels positive social change.

“I see the need for compassion and services, especially mental health services,” she says. “It’s important for us to be healing as a society.”

When she began her studies at Wilmington University, Navarrete envisioned a career in law. That ambition shifted after graduation in May 2023, when she started a three-month internship in the office of Gov. John Carney. It was an immersive, hands-on experience in which she drafted tributes and proclamations and assisted in creating bill memos for the director of Legislative Affairs. 

She put her WilmU studies in Law, Policy, and Political Science to good use, conducting legal research on New Jersey offshore wind turbines. Her favorite part of the job was managing phone calls from Delaware residents who needed assistance and helping to develop cases for the governor’s constituent relations team. 

“For me, the main highlight of my job was developing empathy and compassion by talking to so many constituents,” she recalls. “I learned a lot about emotional intelligence.”

After her internship, Navarrete moved up to a gubernatorial staff assistant position, where she continued her work advocating for constituents. She spearheaded an initiative to develop the governor’s proclamations, tributes, and letters to constituents. And she managed the internship program.

“I came into the working world being socially aware, partly because of my activities at WilmU,” she says.

Alice Miller, former advisor to the Student Government Association, recalls Navarrete’s tenure as president. She remembers her as mature beyond her years, raising money for Sean’s House, a safe haven for people with mental health concerns.

“Emily really excels as a leader. She has a stellar work ethic and cares so much about the students, especially students’ wellbeing and mental health,” Miller says.

Navarrete also served as president of WilmU’s Student-Athlete Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. A standout on the Wildcats’ women’s soccer team, she was president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, focusing on how laws impact sports. 

Yazmyne Valencia, a former teammate, says Navarrete was an inspiration on and off the field.

“She’s caring, ambitious, persistent, authentic, and very vocal. Emily has shown me the importance of being strongly assertive and standing up for what you believe in, even if you have to stand alone sometimes,” she says. “If we were having a bad game, Emily was one of the first people to give a quick word of encouragement. She helped me build my confidence by simply being someone who believed in me.”

Navarrete grew up in southern New Jersey and is one of four children. In her freshman profile as WilmU, she confessed that Justin Bieber was the celebrity she would most like to date. Her Bieber fever has subsided — “that profile is a bit outdated,” she says—but other values haven’t changed. She remains inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy as a civil rights champion.

“Starting in high school, I was passionate about social justice and creating a better world for people to live in,” she says.

Working in Gov. Carney’s office was the first step toward that goal. The governor completes his second term in January 2025 and has announced his candidacy for the City of Wilmington mayor.

Navarrete has taken on a new challenge, as well. In May, she started as a program manager at Strive: How You Lead Matters a nonprofit organization at The Warehouse in Wilmington. Her work focuses on reaching out to schools and community organizations to connect with young athletes and nurture their skills as leaders of tomorrow.

She no longer has her sights set on a career in law. She would rather work with individuals, perhaps as a sports psychologist.

“I want to be hands-on. I want to be involved in people’s lives and make a one-on-one impact in helping people to reach their full potential,” she says.