Elaine Fisher has been the director of Ball State University’s Center for Economic and Community Development since 1993. She also previously served as the center’s associate director. Before joining CECD, she was the associate director of Ball State’s Center for Organizational Resources and provided customized training and consulting services to businesses and industry.

She graduated magna cum laude from Ball State University with a degree in human resources development. She also is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Fisher has received awards for her work in community strategic planning and community economic development education. She has served on the boards of the American Economic Development Council (now the International Economic Development Council), Mid-America Economic Development Council, and Indiana Economic Development Association.

She was born in Overseal, England, but now holds U.S. citizenship. Her husband, Bob Fisher, is a professor of architecture and resident fellow in the Center for Energy Research/Education/Service at Ball State University. They have two daughters: Susan, a landscape architect, and Samantha, a painter.

Fisher’s responsibilities include:

• fund-raising
• product development and marketing
• consulting services and technical assistance
• public speaking/workshops
• customized community economic development projects
• center administration