Elena is an air force brat whose family settled down in Texas for military retirement. She attended Texarkana Community College before transferring to UNT (University of North Texas) to continue pursuing her bachelor's of science in Psychology. There, she got connected to the local BSM (Baptist Student Ministry) and a church family that invested in her budding faith. Through the BSM, she went on to develop a passion for mission work, discipling others, international ministry, and serving the church. After her graduation, she took an opportunity from Go Now Missions to serve on the WSU campus in Pullman, WA for a semester as their campus missionary, partnered with NCM. During that semester, she experienced a greater call to ministry and fell in love with college ministry specifically. She is currently still serving through Go Now Missions, praying about the transition from Go Now to NCM directly, and is actively taking online classes to later achieve her Master's in Biblical Counseling through Gateway Seminary.