IIDA New York Leadership Profile: Elisabeth Mejia 2023

Elisabeth Mejia

Name: Elisabeth Mejia

Title: Vice President, Student Development, IIDA NY

Company: HKS

Location: New York, NY

Birthplace: Clearwater, FL

Name: Elisabeth Mejia

Title: Associate; Project Interior Designer

Education: BFA in Interior Design from Ringling College of Art and Design (Sarasota, FL); MPS in Healthcare Design from New York School of Interior Design

First job: Sales associate at a small boutique dance shop

First job in real estate or allied field: Junior Design at Space As Art (now Angela Rodriguez Interiors)

What do you do now and what are you planning for the future? I work as an interior designer, creating and designing for healthcare and commercial interiors. I also serve as co-VP of Student Development for the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) New York Chapter. We aim to elevate and connect students within the chapter, and to further integrate them into our industry. We’re working on a pilot program with IIDA NY called SUP (Student Uplift Program) that connects students with our industry partners/sponsors and our design firm advocates, establishing mentorship, learning, and industry connections.

How do you unwind from a busy day? Taking the dog for a walk, ordering dinner, and binging on whatever we’re currently watching.

Favorite book or author: Gillian Flynn

Favorite movie: “Center Stage”

Favorite streaming series: Absolutely loved “Ted Lasso”

One word to describe your work environment: Enriching

Rules to live by in business: Continue to ask questions.

If you could invite one person to dinner (living or dead, but not related to you) who would it be and where would you go? Coffee with Mikhail Baryshnikov

What is your DREAM job? Open a bakery and coffee shop.