Emory University is a private research university located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, renowned for its strong programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional schools including medicine, law, and business. Founded in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, the institution began as a small liberal arts college in Oxford, Georgia. In 1915, Emory College relocated to its current main campus in the Druid Hills neighborhood, four miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, following a decision by the Methodist General Conference to establish a major university in the region. This move was influenced by Asa Griggs Candler, founder of The Coca-Cola Company and brother to former Emory President Warren Candler, who donated land and resources to make Emory the nucleus of the new university.

The university has grown significantly since its relocation, establishing key professional schools such as the Emory University School of Law in 1916 and expanding its medical programs, which played vital roles during World War I and II. Emory's historical ties to The Coca-Cola Company are deep and enduring; it is colloquially known as 'Coca-Cola University' due to generous philanthropy from figures like Robert W. Woodruff, who became president of Coca-Cola in 1923 and later founded the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation in 1937, serving as Emory's greatest benefactor. These connections have funded major developments, including The Emory Clinic in 1953, and fostered traditions like exclusively serving Coca-Cola products on campus. Today, Emory is a leading research institution with a global reputation for innovation in health sciences, public policy, and interdisciplinary studies.

Emory University's campus life includes unique traditions such as the annual Dooley Cup sporting match between the university administration and the student government association. Its contributions to fields like neurosurgery, including pioneering brain mapping techniques for treating Parkinson's disease, underscore its commitment to advancing knowledge and public health. As a member of the Association of American Universities, Emory continues to attract top faculty and students, maintaining its status as one of the Southeast's premier academic institutions.