Elysia Dawn has established a successful career in community enrichment and the arts. Currently serving as the chief executive officer of United Arts Collier in Naples, Florida, she has significantly impacted the local arts community since joining in 2022, having been promoted to her current role in 2025. United Arts Collier is a state-recognized local arts agency dedicated to making the arts accessible to everyone in Collier, supporting both emerging and established artists in visual arts, film, sculpture, and the performing arts. The organization focuses on art education, community building, and advocacy, aiming to highlight the profound impact of the arts. Additionally, the organization addresses mental health challenges, using art to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder and to support those living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
With a strong emphasis on inclusivity, United Arts Collier secures funding to support its initiatives, serving approximately 2,500 students annually and providing specialized programs for veterans and seniors with neurodegenerative conditions. Beyond her capacity as chief executive officer, Ms. Dawn also serves on the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, appointed to this post by Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo in 2024. She actively advocates for the arts’ importance, working with community leaders to raise awareness and promote art therapy programs.
Ms. Dawn’s career began with an internship at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by roles as an assistant and program associate at MetLiveArts from 2015 to 2020. She then served as fundraising director for GALLIM and operated Elysia Dawn Consulting from 2020 to 2022 before joining United Arts Collier as executive director. Ms. Dawn further honed her leadership acumen through the Leadership Collier Foundation’s Class of 2024. In addition to her primary roles, she has contributed to civic organizations like the Ivy Ballet Exchange and the Columbia Ballet Collaborative, where she served as artistic director, and has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 2007. She prepared for her career path at Columbia University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in art history and business management in 2015 and a Master of Science in nonprofit management in 2019. Additionally, Ms. Dawn is a certified Pilates instructor.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Dawn left home at 14 to pursue ballet, training at prestigious institutions such as the North Carolina School of the Arts and Miami City Ballet School. Her professional career included performances with the Washington Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, with which she toured internationally. After an injury in 2008, she shifted to academia, earning a degree and founding outreach programs for student dancers. She later worked at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she launched the first choreographer-in-residence initiative with MetLiveArts. During the pandemic, she became the fundraising director for Gallim, a New York dance company.
Ms. Dawn believes what sets her apart in her field is her deep connection to her hometown. Grateful for the opportunity to serve Collier County, she combines her local roots with invaluable international experience. She draws on her time in New York City, her work at world-class institutions, and her background in renowned dance companies to benefit her community. In light of her impressive undertakings, she has been recognized with numerous awards, including being named one of the Defenders of the Gulf and being listed in the Naples Top 100 in 2025. She attributes her success to faith, determination, and perseverance.
Outside her professional life, Ms. Dawn enjoys Pilates, ballroom dancing, and exploring Collier County’s natural beauty. Looking to the future, she aims to help the community recognize the value of integrating the arts into health and well-being. She is working to establish an arts and health council and is exploring the role of the arts in community safety, including how arts can influence crime prevention and reduce recidivism rates. Ms. Dawn looks forward to exploring innovative ways the arts can contribute to storm resilience, such as the use of underwater sculptures in artificial reefs to mitigate storm damage.
Photo Credit: Kelly Jones