About Elise park

Born and raised in the Southwest, Elise graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western with a BA in Politics and Government, and earned a master’s degree from Rutgers University in Cultural Anthropology: Peace and Conflict Studies. Her master’s thesis examined the power of memory, storytelling, and cultural expression to unite and heal communities. While studying at Rutgers, Elise was selected to be a researcher for the prestigious American Museum of Natural History in New York City, launching her into the world of museum management. She has served in leadership roles with museums and nonprofits in Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole, and Moab but loves calling the Gunnison Valley home most of all.