In her role as Chief Development & Business Officer, Elisa Westapher cultivates and strengthens NACSA’s organizational and business partnerships to further our mission and strategic initiatives. These organizational partnerships include working with our board of directors, strategic advisory council, members, and federal policy partners. Elisa also leads our development team to ensure future financial growth and stability through maintaining strong relationships with NACSA’s current donors and creating new relationships aligned to our strategic priorities.

In addition, Elisa heads our consulting division, Nexus at NACSA, which provides authorizers and other education stakeholders with customized services and supports to maximize outcomes for students across the United States. Elisa has extensive and specialized experience in authorizer evaluations, operator due diligence, and projects that focus on the intersection of policy and practice.

Prior to joining NACSA, Elisa practiced law at Holland & Knight, LLP, where she specialized in education and commercial real estate. During her time there, Elisa helped state agencies, charter schools, nonprofits, and ed tech companies structure programs and transactions to achieve their educational goals and maximize flexibility under the law.

Elisa holds a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a B.A. in government from Cornell University. Elisa lives in Oak Park, Illinois with her husband, two children, and dog.