Barnard welcomed Emma Wolfe in January to serve as the first Senior Advisor to the President for External Relations and Leadership Development. Wolfe, who served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor in Bill de Blasio’s administration, will enhance Barnard’s relationships with government officials and expand leadership development opportunities. She majored in urban studies and sociology at Barnard and is deeply passionate about community organizing and politics. For the past 12 years, she helped craft and implement Bill de Blasio’s agenda, first during his tenure as Public Advocate and then for the entirety of his two terms as Mayor, serving as his highest-ranking staffer. Prior to her work in city government, she worked for the Working Families Party, Service Employees International Union, and Acorn.