Emma Wethered
Director of Scheduling
Rep. Sarah McBride
Before Emma Wethered became the person her colleagues count on to keep their days running smoothly, she imagined a career as a therapist or social worker.
The Montville, New Jersey, native studied Human Services at the University of Delaware, then added a Public Policy minor and found herself reconsidering her plans. “I ended up falling in love with it!” she says.
An internship with then-Senator Tom Carper gave her a chance to explore that interest. It turned into a full-time job after graduation, and the decision got easier: “I loved that office and did not want to leave!”
Through her work in Carper’s office, Emma became familiar with Rep. McBride’s work in the Delaware State Senate. When Carper announced his retirement, Emma knew she wanted to join McBride’s team.
She moved to D.C. on New Year’s Eve 2024 and began her new role on January 3, 2025, McBride’s first day in office. Today, she’s the office’s Director of Scheduling, with five and a half years working for Congress.
What has made the experience special is the team she’s found.
- 🎿 Skiing: Her mom is from Vermont, and Emma heads to the slopes every winter. Her picks are Killington for downhill and Mountain Top for cross-country.
- 🌍 South Africa: She spent a month visiting Johannesburg, Pretoria, Madikwe, and Cape Town, where she especially enjoyed learning about the country’s cultural and political history.
- 🇮🇹 Italy: Emma and her fiancé are heading there for their honeymoon next year. It will be their first visit, so recommendations are welcome.
- 🏈 The Eagles: Her bar of choice is Boundary Stone, especially when there’s a game to watch.
Ask Emma’s colleagues about her, and you’ll hear plenty about the calendar. You’ll also hear about how well she knows the people on it.
Emma sits down individually with colleagues, pays attention to their bandwidth, and suggests staffing opportunities that fit their portfolios, personalities, and capacity. That care makes a difference in how the office works and how it feels to work there.
Another colleague described her as “a great mentor, a wonderful teammate, and genuinely one of the funniest people I know.”
Then there’s the endorsement that inspired this spotlight’s opening:
Emma’s answer to the best advice she’s received offers a glimpse into the work behind that praise:
She also draws on what she learned studying Human Services, especially when it comes to communicating with coworkers.
“Different people operate differently, and it’s important to recognize and honor that,” she says. “It helps build trust between you and your colleagues.”
That thinking carries into the regular check-ins her team appreciates.
Coffee Spot: Black Crown Collective
Bar: Boundary Stone
Happy Hour: Oyamel (order the margarita)
Lunch Spot: Grazie Grazie
TV Show: Gilmore Girls
Movie: About Time
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Emma’s advice to someone just getting started is to keep asking questions.
And if you’re looking for someone to ask, Emma leaves the door open: