Emily Sommer

Ascend California - Deputy Camp Director

Emily worked as a secondary school teacher for 22 years, and recently retired.  During her teaching career, she taught all levels of English, including advanced courses. Emily also taught reading classes and yearbook courses. In the debate space, she was an administrative director for the John F. Kennedy Speech & Debate team that traveled the country and won various awards at both the state and national level.  In addition, she played a major role in an annual yearbook camp, held at University of the Pacific (“UOP”) during the summer.  A teaching highlight was being able to share her love of travel with her students when she led groups on countless field trips, including overnight trips throughout California, to Ashland, OR, and across the globe.  This included Europe, South Korea, Japan, and South America. She is excited to once again be working with students this summer at UOP.