Elisa Kaplan Miller
April 6, 1957 – June 22, 2025
Elisa Kaplan Miller passed away on June 22, 2025, shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Born on April 6, 1957, Elisa led a vibrant life full of curiosity, compassion and creativity. Her professional journey was as diverse as it was impactful. Her roles spanned the U.S. Post Office, startups, corporations and academia. At heart, Elisa was always a teacher. She taught at several institutions including SMU, Austin Community College, Kennesaw College, Elizabethtown College and most recently at the Bass School of UT Dallas, where she had just completed her first semester and proudly held the title of associate professor.
A lifelong learner and educator, Elisa earned a master’s degree in instructional technology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Arizona. She published her first magazine article in college and went on to spend nearly three decades studying and innovating in user experience, blending human behavior with thoughtful design.
Outside the classroom, Elisa found joy in books, concerts, Dungeons & Dragons game nights, musicals and cooking, especially baking challahs that she mailed to her family. Her home, brimming with colorful tchotchkes and cross-stitch art, reflected the warmth and whimsy she brought into the lives of others.
Elisa never met a stray dog she didn’t want to rescue, embodying her generosity and fierce loyalty. She made friends of all ages and backgrounds and treated people with dignity, valuing who they were over what they did.
Elisa is survived by her partner Teal Ashby; her mother Karen Kaplan; her brother Michael Kaplan (Wendy); her sister Meryl Evans (Paul); and her nieces and nephews Shelby Evans, Stephanie Parten (Chris), Lane Evans and Zachary Evans. She was preceded in death by her father Alvin Kaplan.
Her legacy lives on through the students she inspired, the friends she cherished and the family she adored. Many remember Elisa for her boisterous laugh and for always being herself. As her niece Shelby said in tribute, “She never squirreled away her brightness; she showed it and shared it, lighting up spaces and faces with her vibrance.”
