Across campus, students know they can turn to Emma Baumgarten, SIS/BA ’26, for help with everything from tracking down a USPS mailbox or a stamp to navigating the complexities of absentee ballots. Now, her leadership in fostering a culture of civic engagement has earned national recognition.

Baumgarten was named last month to the ALL IN 2026 Student Voting Honor Roll, an award highlighting students who have gone above and beyond to advance nonpartisan voter registration and turnout. American University also remains a leader in the field, as one of 129 institutions to receive the 2026 Highly Established Action Plan Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its commitment to promoting civic learning and student participation.

The honor follows a tenure at AU defined by Baumgarten’s commitment to building a permanent infrastructure for student voting—regardless of party affiliation. 

She cofounded Voters at AU with Alyssa Levin, SPA/BA ’25—a 2025 ALL IN Honor Roll recipient—transforming what was once a staff-led coalition into a flourishing student organization with over 170 members. As president of the organization, Baumgarten has been the “creative brain” behind community-centered programs that run throughout the entire year—not just during major election cycles, said Melanie Bullock, director of AU’s Center for Leadership and Community Engagement.

“What I’m most proud of is the community’s interest in a nonpartisan student organization dedicated to encouraging both students and the broader AU community to vote,” Baumgarten said.

For the Westchester, New York, native, maintaining a nonpartisan lens was a deliberate and vital choice. 

Baumgarten, an international studies major with a concentration in environmental sustainability and global health, noted that voting can be scary or intimidating. Her goal was to eliminate the pressure often associated with political engagement and to “intentionally create space for any and all students to learn what it means to be an engaged voter,” Bullock said.

“Whether increasing voter registration, expanding access to absentee ballots, or cultivating a vibrant community of civic-minded peers, Emma leads with humility, creativity, and purpose,” Bullock said.

“I always say, ‘I don’t care who you vote for as long as you vote,’” Baumgarten said.

Her own journey as a voter began during the 2022 midterms. Although she grew up in a household where voting was highly encouraged, receiving her own absentee ballot in her dorm room was a formative “aha moment.” That same year, she was already scouting USPS mailboxes on campus and organizing Absentee Ballot Days to help her fellow Eagles find their own voices.

Beyond campus, Baumgarten has worked to build bridges with the DC Board of Elections. She hopes Voters at AU will eventually expand its reach to local high schools to assist seniors with pre-registration—a cause inspired by her own high school social studies teacher who handed out registration forms before graduation. She views this work as a critical response to a time when many feel disillusioned by the system.

In addition to her civic leadership, Baumgarten brings experience in nonprofit work through her work as a volunteer outreach and engagement intern with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. As she nears graduation, Baumgarten said she plans to carry her passion for service into a career in nonprofit development and fundraising.