Elise Ernst

Elise Ernst brings a career spanning education, social work, and medical administration, most recently serving as Vice President of Primary Care at The Polyclinic, where she spent 12 years before retiring.

Elise returns to the Gage Academy of Art Board of Trustees after first serving for six years in the mid-1990s, when Gage was based on Capitol Hill and, for a time, in the University District. Her connection to Gage is personal. Her son, David O. Smith, began figure drawing lessons as a young teen with Gage co-founder Gary Faigin, and the mentorship of Gary and Tony Ryder was instrumental to his growth into the professional artist he is today. Elise rejoined the board because Gage has remained a vital part of Seattle’s arts community, and she will serve on the Finance Committee.

Outside of her board service, Elise enjoys tennis, piano, and traveling with family and friends.