RU-N Alumna, Class of 2008
“Use your voice,” she says, “let people see who you are and what makes you different,” because employers are often looking for the skills and perspectives that they don’t have on their teams.
Born of Cuban and Italian heritage, Elise Leight is a New Jersey native and a Rutgers University-Newark alumna. When asked about her alma mater, Elise proudly shares her deep Rutgers and Newark roots stating that her brother and sister are also RU-Newark alumni, that her husband is a Rutgers Law graduate, and that her father was a native of the Ironbound. As a first generation college student, Elise benefitted from being a first-year student at RU-N when her brother was a senior, allowing him to share some advice about how to navigate the university. Elise credits the small classes of her Journalism and Media Studies major, attentive faculty, and her own time management skills for the wealth of knowledge she gained from courses, her professors, and her internship experiences. Connecting with her faculty, she says, aided her in deciding what area of Communications she wanted to pursue. She smiles remembering taking a full-time course load, working at a part-time job, and interning in NYC for two major companies in her chosen field. According to Elise, Rutgers-Newark taught her the skills she needed to manage her life independently. In the 14 years since she graduated from RU-N, Elise has successfully built a career working in Public Relations for beauty and fashion companies, and, more recently, pivoting to become a Vice President in Communications for a major financial institution. She describes her current position as being the right place to allow her to be her best self both professionally and personally.
Elise is brimming with advice for students and new alumni, encouraging them not to be afraid because they think they don’t fit into a given situation or environment. “Use your voice,” she says, “let people see who you are and what makes you different,” because employers are often looking for the skills and perspectives that they don’t have on their teams. “Be fearless!” she says, “Make your career what you want it to be!”
The Rutgers University-Newark, Division of Student Affairs celebrates you, ELISE LEIGHT, for courageously pursuing your passion and being a role model for today’s students.