About

Dr. Elise Barrella, P.E., is an expert in infrastructure systems, design thinking, sustainable communities, and design education with over 20 years of professional and research experience. As the founder and CEO of DfX Consulting LLC, a small, woman-owned business, Dr. Barrella channels her passion for creating sustainable and resilient systems across professional practice, academic research, and teaching roles.

Whether as an engineering faculty member and researcher or as a consultant and entrepreneur, she has infused sustainability concepts and community engagement into her work, from designing interdisciplinary courses to leading collaborative projects with community-based organizations. A core commonality is her use of mixed-methods research, which she applies to everything from assessing student learning to analyzing transportation issues. Furthermore, she consistently emphasizes collaborative and multi-disciplinary teamwork, working with diverse stakeholders, from students and faculty to non-profits and government agencies, to address complex, real-world problems.

Her career also shows a continuous dedication to public and professional service, maintaining active involvement in national organizations like the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), and the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network. Locally she lends her expertise to city advisory roles and non-profits focused on redesigning the built environment, such as Boston-Thurmond United, Community Design Studio, and Creative Corridors Coalition.

Dr. Barrella holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University and both a Master of City and Regional Planning and a PhD in Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems) from Georgia Tech, with emphases in Sustainability and Land & Community Development.