Emma Grahn
BRI Staff Team
Director, Innovation Lab
Emma Grahn is the Director of the Civics Innovation Lab at the Bill of Rights Institute. Drawing on her background in museum-based invention education and youth civic engagement, Emma leads national efforts to pioneer novel learning resources, study the impact of civics instruction, and explore how emerging technologies can expand access and opportunity for teachers and students alike. Through the Civics Innovation Lab, Emma advances a vision for civic learning that combines creativity and problem-solving to foster innovative thinking within civic contexts and reimagine how civic identity is formed.
Emma joined the Institute in 2024 to support youth-facing programs designed to help young people identify community challenges, generate solutions, and become civic leaders in their communities. Prior to BRI, she spent a decade as a museum educator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, specializing in inquiry-driven, audience-centered learning experiences.
Emma holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from Bucknell University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from The George Washington University. She is passionate about equipping the next generation with the civic imagination needed to shape the future.