About Elise
Elise Blasingame (Osage/𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷) is a policy and research professional with over ten years of experience in public service. Elise’s professional interests include policy advocacy, community infrastructure, strategic planning, and building the capacity of civic and non-profit organizations to make real impact for the communities they serve. In 2020, Elise was honored as one of Georgia Trend's 40 under 40.
Elise served as the Executive Director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA) (2015-2020). In her role, she supported a dynamic team to improve maternal and infant health through policy advocacy, research, stakeholder convening, education and access to vital resources through a high-performing call center. Prior to her role at HMHBGA, Elise served as Director of Community Education and Financial Protection for Georgia Watch. Elise also brings experience from The Carter Center’s Mental Health Program and Global Access to Information Initiative, working primarily on projects in West Africa.
She is an alum of New Leaders Council Atlanta (2016), LEAD Atlanta (2019), Zell Miller Leadership Institute (2020), and served as the District 3-At-Large Appointee to the City of Atlanta Commission on Women (2017-2020). Elise is an alum of the Indigenous Leadership Academy at Arizona State University (2022) and the Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Fellowship Program, where she served the Office of Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (2022).
Throughout her career, Elise has been a coalition leader and community organizer, leading winning campaigns to acheive policy change at the local, state and federal levels. This includes securing millions of dollars in government appropriations and private foundation support for public service programs. She is a founding Board Member of Postpartum Support International - Georgia Chapter.
Elise is an Atlanta native and returned to Georgia in 2012. Elise received her MSW from the University at Buffalo (SUNY). She holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. Elise is currently pursuing her doctorate in Political Science at the School of Public & International Affairs at UGA.
Elise serves as Parks Chair for her community in Atlanta where she lives with her husband, two dogs (Taco Bell and Mochi) and her family of chickens.
Photo Credit: Amber Murphy Raines