Elise, a Charlotte native who grew up in Fort Mill, SC, is committed to contributing to the community and making a meaningful impact through her work. In college, Elise’s first human rights and international law course sparked her passion for human rights and social advocacy. She also served as a research assistant on a project about the transnational geographies of country-of-origin information reports, and she continues to advance this research today.

Before joining ViaLegal Immigration, Elise gained valuable experience as a legal assistant at Cavanaugh & Thickens. Managing a high caseload, preparing legal documents, and interacting daily with clients helped her develop strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and effective communication skills. Elise also learned to work efficiently under tight deadlines with a heavy caseload.

Driven by a passion for helping others, Elise assists with teaching ESL classes twice a week, where many of her students are new to the U.S. and are navigating the immigration process. Outside of teaching and working in immigration, Elise enjoys painting with acrylic, spending time with her sisters, and traveling abroad. She’s explored destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Bologna, Cologne, St. Johns, and Buenos Aires, with many more places still on her travel list.