Emily Mercer is an Assistant Photograph Conservator at The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL. She learned about conservation during her undergraduate studies at the University of Mary Washington, where she received her B.A. in Historic Preservation. Mercer earned an M.A. in Conservation of Art and Cultural Heritage and an M.S. in Conservation Science and Imaging from SUNY Buffalo State University in 2023, where she specialized in the conservation of photographic materials. As a graduate student, she completed internships at Paul Messier LLC, the National Gallery of Art, and the Library of Congress. After graduation, Mercer held a fellowship at the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) in Andover, MA. Mercer has held several volunteer roles within the Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN), including serving as the Williamsburg Regional Liaison, SUNY Buffalo Graduate Liaison, and is currently the liaison for the Photographic Material Group (PMG).