Emma Zavala joined the Tufts Athletics department as the Civic Engagement Administrator for Athletics in the summer of 2026. Zavala comes to Tufts after working a year as the Health and Wellness Programming Intern at Harvard University. 

Zavala was a four-year standout at coxswain at the University of San Diego as an undergraduate, as she was named as the 2024 West Coast Conference Co-Coxswain of the Year as well as 2024 WCC First Team. Zavala was a 2024 West Coast Conference All-Academic Team honoree, while also earning the 2024 USD Virginia Stehly Award for Inspiration through Attitude and Actions. Zavala was also nominated for the USD Female Athlete of the Year. She was also WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2023. 

Zavala graduated magna cum laude from the University of San Diego with a bachelor of arts in Anthropology, while also earning the Presidential Scholarship. Zavala also graduated from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where she earneed a Master's in Education and Policy and Analysis. 

A California native, Zavala attended Santa Barbara High School.