Emily Dilger, PhD

Emily Dilger leads Ignited’s programs, community outreach, and partnerships, ensuring the organization’s long-term sustainability while advancing its 40-year mission. Since joining Ignited in 2019, first as Director of Education and now as CEO, she has transformed a small externship project into a cornerstone program, overseen curriculum initiatives funded by Genentech and the Office of Naval Research, and guided staff and financial management, fundraising, and board engagement efforts.

Before joining Ignited, Emily led a STEM education coalition at the California Academy of Sciences, managed BrainFacts.org for the Society for Neuroscience and supported creative science communication, including founding the American Society for Microbiology’s Agar Art contest. Emily holds a PhD in neuroscience from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BS in biochemistry from Mary Washington College. Since moving from the East Coast in 2016, she enjoys hiking the West Coast with her dog and exploring its natural beauty.

Contact: edilger@igniteducation.org