Laurilea "Elle" McDaniel, MS

Laurilea “Elle” McDaniel is a Lecturer in Arts Integration at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She brings more than 24 years of experience in theatre, dance, visual art, and education, with a teaching portfolio that spans kindergarten through college.

Elle holds undergraduate degrees in Theatre, Journalism, and Education, as well as a master’s degree in Theatre & Dance Education from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UCCS. In 2017, she was honored with the Freddie G Fellowship for her outstanding contributions to arts education and named the Administrator of the Year by Colorado Thespians in 2024.

In addition to her role at UCCS, Elle serves as Dean at High Plains School in Thompson School District, where she supports instructional leadership and fosters arts integration across disciplines. Her work is grounded in the belief that the arts are essential to cultivating creativity, equity, and student engagement in all learning environments.