Emily Poole

State Policy Manager

Emily Poole is a licensed attorney and joined Upstate Forever in 2026 as State Policy Manager. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Sociology from Mercer University in 2019, and she then graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2022 with her Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy and Administration. Throughout her time in law school, Emily gained clerkship and internship experience with a variety of public interest organizations, focusing particularly on environmental advocacy and policy. After graduation, Emily moved to South Carolina and joined the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) as Staff Attorney, where she advocated before courts, agencies, and state and local governing bodies on matters relating to clean air and water, responsible development of land, cleanup of toxic sites, public participation in civic processes, and the siting of environmentally harmful projects.

In her role at Upstate Forever, Emily advocates for the organization’s state legislative priorities and advances environmental and energy justice across the upstate region. Emily is excited to bring both her legal and policy expertise to this position and looks forward to continued partnership with the organizations, agencies, and groups that are also working tirelessly to protect South Carolina’s environment and communities.

In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her friends and family, loving on her two cats, hiking, listening to music, and getting involved in her community.