Supporter Spotlight: Emory Prescott

By Wendy Almeida

For Emory Prescott, being a Mount Washington Observatory member for the past 10 years isn’t just about weather. It’s about purpose and the kind of research that helps people better understand the natural world.

Emory was first introduced to the mountain — not through hiking or winter sports — but by her partner Greg Martin, an accomplished hang glider from New Hampshire who became the third person ever to fly off the summit of Mount Washington (a feat that is no longer permitted to attempt). His deep connection to the mountain sparked her own curiosity. “I didn’t even know Mount Washington existed,” she notes. “Greg told me about the ‘world’s worst weather’ and that led me to the Observatory.”

That early introduction inspired Emory to look more closely at the mountain and the weather research being done there. “That’s when I became very interested in the studies that were being done,” she explains. “I have always been fascinated with research-based information.”

Emory spent more than two decades as a speech pathologist specializing in trauma and neurological conditions before earning her Ph.D. in herbal medicine and writing The Herbal Brain. Her career has been guided by a deep commitment to helping others through rigorous, evidence-based work. That’s part of what drew her to the Observatory.

“What Mount Washington Observatory offers is not just a glimpse of New Hampshire weather, but global weather,” she reflects. “And the way the organization is tied into other meteorological stations around the globe is impressive.”

Her ongoing support is rooted in a belief that the Observatory’s work has far-reaching importance and scientific longevity. “[Observers] are doing work that is diligent and so necessary for us to understand weather patterns around the world,” she explains. “The staff dedicates their time to documenting what might seem mundane to others, but the collective research that’s taking place is so vital for our understanding of our world.”

For Emory, the Observatory is part of a broader commitment to helping others and advancing scientific knowledge—whether about people, animals, or the planet. “I believe strongly that a purpose-driven life is fundamental.”