Elder previously was an associated clinical professor and clinical preceptor at UMSL from 2011 to 2016 and had a stint as the director of fourth-year clinical rotations. Elder has served on the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry and at the University of South Carolina Department of Ophthalmology and as an officer and optometrist for the United States Navy Medical Services Corps. She holds a Doctor of Optometry and two master’s degrees, one in vision science and a second in instructional design, all from UAB.