Denise Elson

About

Denise Elson is the Associate Director of Institutional Programming at the Hoover Institution, where she is responsible for implementing and managing strategic initiatives aligned with Hoover’s mission. In this capacity, she leads a team that collaborates with the Hoover fellowship to design, launch, and execute new programs and research initiatives. Her work emphasizes cross-institutional collaboration to create innovative opportunities for scholars to engage with external thought leaders and the broader public.

Elson has been a key member of Hoover’s management team since 2001. Over the years, she has played a central role in expanding the Institution’s research portfolio, including the development and launch of numerous working groups, task forces, and signature programs such as the Summer Policy Boot Camp and the Hoover Veteran Fellowship.

Prior to joining Hoover, Elson served as Vice President of Operations and was a founding member of the senior management team at Starwire Corporation, where she oversaw client and professional services, human resources, facilities, board relations, and corporate administration. Earlier in her career, she was Director of University Events at Pepperdine University, where she led a centralized strategy for event management, marketing, and program delivery across the university’s schools and campuses.

Elson holds a BS in Business Administration and Marketing from American University and completed graduate coursework in Business Administration at Pepperdine University. She resides in Pleasanton, California, with her husband and two children.