Whitney Elmer is the Vice President of Emergency Response, leading our Global Emergency Response Team to provide rapid, effective, and quality emergency response to people and communities impacted by conflict or disasters. Under Whitney’s leadership, this team provides deployable capacity for emergency response start-up and leads the agency’s emergency preparedness and readiness efforts.  

Over the last nearly two decades, Whitney has managed humanitarian and development programmes and led country and regional teams in some of the most complex and fragile environments. She brings forth a strong commitment and passion for humanitarian response, always advocating for communities in need during crisis.

Since joining Mercy Corps in 2008, Whitney has led country, programme, and field operations in the DRC, Central African Republic, Haiti, Iraq, and Jordan. Prior to taking up her current role, she led our West Africa portfolio, providing strategic leadership and oversight to nine country teams in West and Central Africa in her capacity as the Deputy Regional Director. 

Originally from the Midwest in the United States, Whitney holds a master's degree in international public health. She has a passion for identifying practical solutions to complex issues. In her free time, Whitney enjoys spending time traveling with her husband and two children.