ELISE BERNARDONI

Director of Engagement, Canopy Strategic Partners

Elise Bernardoni is the Director of Engagement at Canopy Strategic Partners, helping mission-driven organizations improve the planet. Previously, she was the Assistant Director for Education Programs at Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), where she worked for 14 years, overseeing various education programs and managing special projects. She is an active advocate for zoo-based conservation organizations, an instructor for AZA professional development courses, and the national education co-advisor for the Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group.

Elise holds a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University and an MA in Teaching; Museum Education from The George Washington University. Passionate about youth conservation, she is a Connecticut native who enjoys traveling, kayaking, and wildlife spotting.