Born and raised in El Paso, Texas on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, Elisa developed a deep appreciation for the unique challenges and beauty of arid landscapes. Elisa is dedicated to creating equitable, climate-responsive designs that harmonize with local ecologies and cultural values.

Elisa earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where she was honored as the 2024 Olmsted Scholar and graduated with honors. She also received the 2024 NYU ASLA Honor Award and the Distinguished Student Award. During her time at SUNY ESF, she completed research in Spain on schoolyard naturalization and authored a hand-illustrated children's book based on her findings. Elisa joined MVVA in 2024.