Currently a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Central Florida, Elise brings a strong interdisciplinary background to her work. She earned both her M.A. in Sociology and B.A. in Marketing and Event Planning from UCF, proudly making her an Ultimate Knight. Her academic path reflects a blend of research, creativity, and community focus—qualities that continue to shape her work today.

Education

  • PhD - Sociology

    University of Central Florida

    August 2025

    Dissertation - Driving Science’s Next Generation Forward: GeoBus Program Theory Evaluation—Examining Educational Inequalities 

    Geographic Information Systems Graduate Certificate

  • Master's Degree - Sociology

    University of Central Florida

    August 2020

    Applied Sociology

    Thesis - Munch on This: A GIS-based analysis of vegetarian students’ perceptions of social inequalities within their on-campus food environment.

  • Bachelor's Degree - Marketing & Event Planning

    University of Central Florida

    December 2015

    Major in Marketing

    Minor in Event Planning

Work Experience

ISBS

Project Manager & Graduate Research Assistant | Fall 2024 - Summer 2025 |

Worked on projects including United Against Poverty, Coalition for the Homeless, Lift Orlando and Orlando Housing Authority, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Puerto Rico Pilot Program Evaluation. Duties varied from interview design and administration in both English and Spanish to data analysis for developing a quarterly report.

Geo Explorer Summer Institute

University of Central Florida

Lead Educator and Coordinator | Summer 2023, 2024, 2025 |

Annual Summer Camp for rising 6th and 7th graders to learn about geospatial technology and research methods.

VR Orlando Rental

Instructor for after-school lessons on coding and robotics for 1st - 5th grade students across Orange County Schools.

Sociology Department

University of Central Florida

Teaching Assistant | Summer 2024 |

Graded assignments & primary point of communication for undergraduate students. Assisted the professor with technical difficulties, reviewed posted content for the online course.

Citizen Science GIS

University of Central Florida

Director of Operations for GeoBus UCF | 2020 - 2024 |

Senior Research Coordinator for NSF REU / RET in Belize 2022 and 2023.

Outreach Coordinator for the Maps, Apps, and Drones Tour | 2018 - 2020

Awards & Recognitions

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

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