Get to Know NTI: Elise Rowan

Elise Rowan serves as the deputy vice president of NTI’s Communications team. She co-leads the organization’s Critical Mass project, which harnesses the power of culture and campaigns to change the narrative on nuclear weapons and shift political incentives toward policies that reduce nuclear risks. She rejoined NTI in 2022 after a prior stint from 2011-2016. 

Elise spoke with Elizabeth Smith about her work at NTI, her life outside of the office, and what keeps her going. 

I’m so excited to be doing this interview! Could you start by highlighting what first brought you to NTI?

When I was applying to graduate programs in international affairs, somebody told me to pick an issue I was interested in and write all my essays about it. And I read this Foreign Affairs article called “The Logic of Zero” about nuclear disarmament and what that would take, why it made sense, et cetera. I was like, “This is it. What bigger thing are we working towards?” So, I wrote all my essays around nuclear policy, and I never deviated. I got to grad school, and it just totally clicked. And then I had a professor who recommended me to NTI.

Wow, that is lore! What do you love most about your current role? 

I’ve somehow found this unicorn of a job that is at the intersection of an issue I care deeply about—which, as you know, in my opinion is one of the most important issues facing us now, in terms of what threatens our livelihoods and way of life—and also incorporates pop culture and humor. I love the challenge of making things that are really complicated resonate with people and breaking them down in ways that people can understand. That’s so much of what we get to do. It’s just really special to be in a role where my obsession and love for celebrity culture and film and TV and all of that is an asset. When I started in this field as a young woman, I was really focused on trying to prove myself as a nuclear policy expert. I’m so happy to have reached a place where I have that knowledge and background, and I can talk to wonks, but I can also talk to everyday people.

I also know you left NTI for a bit—what brought you back?

I’m tempted to answer a question you didn’t ask, which is why I left. I was frustrated at the time by not being able to see progress. I was craving working on an issue where you could see the impact, for example, a child’s life transformed. And I was also annoyed because I was in rooms where people who had been in the field a long time would argue with each other about who had the most insider information about the 1979 SALT II Treaty talks instead of building on that expertise to coordinate and innovate. And I was kind of like, “Are we not trying to do something together that’s important?”

So, I pivoted. There are other things that I care deeply about. So I spent six years in strategic communications and fundraising roles with the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, an organization that supports volunteers across the country who work with children and families involved in the foster care system.

While I was gone, NTI leadership had the realization that significant (and lasting) progress on nuclear threat reduction would require public pressure on politicians and decisionmakers. That’s what led to the creation of the Critical Mass project. I came back at first to cover for my colleague Ravi while he was out taking care of his new baby, and I stayed on because I realized that I had something to offer NTI. The trust NTI placed in Ravi and me to build out Critical Mass and try new things to achieve NTI’s policy priorities has been so gratifying.

OK, let’s shift topics a bit. What brings you joy outside of NTI?

Traveling and planning travel! I love planning a trip. It’s really like creative expression. It’s very hopeful, and it allows me to daydream a little bit. If I’ve had a really stressful day or I’m feeling burnt out, I’ll think: OK, what is the next trip we’re going to take?  I also like to bring people together. I had a milestone birthday trip last year where I had people from different stages of my life coming together.

A milestone birthday, that’s so fun. What did you do?

I went to summer camp growing up and was a camp counselor for three years in college, so for my 40th birthday, we had a camp-themed getaway. For me, camp is where you feel completely authentic and free to be yourself, weird, silly, and unburdened by societal pressures.

I love that, and now I want to go to camp! As a last question, tell me about what keeps you going now when progress seems slow? 

A departing colleague verbalized my driving motivation the other day, and I found it really inspiring—it’s the idea that things seem impossible until they happen. Who could ever have imagined in 1982 that we would get rid of 80% of the nuclear weapons that we had? And in cooperation with Russia? People would have been like, “you’re crazy,” but it happened.   I’m really inspired by a big vision. It motivates me to keep going and imagine a better future. And with my kids, we’re living in a coin toss of whether they’re going to have it better than I did, and this is just one way that I really want to do something better for them and for all who come after.