Dr. Rashitta Brown-Elize is a first-generation college graduate, seasoned student affairs professional, and proud Doctor of Education from USC. With over two decades of leadership in higher education, she brings both lived experience and institutional expertise to her work.
Her approach bridges mentorship, mission, and strategy. Empowering students to persist, and guiding professionals to lead with purpose, equity, and impact.
Dr. Rashitta Brown-Elize turned academic setbacks into a platform for transformation. Once dismissed from college, she returned to become a professor at the same institution and rose to serve as Vice President of Student Services.
Today, she partners with campuses nationwide to cultivate a culture of mentorship, strengthen connections across campus, and remind students and staff alike: your beginning doesn’t define your legacy, it shapes your calling.
Dr. Brown Elize works closely with campus partners to understand institutional goals and student needs
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Rashitta Brown-Elize for her incredible contribution to our 2024 Beauty is My Name Youth Self-Development 10-week workshop series. Dr. Brown-Elize partnered with A Seat at The Table to facilitate our highly impactful College Prep 101 workshop, where she empowered girls ages 9-16 with the tools and knowledge they need to begin their journey toward higher education. Her passion, expertise, and genuine care inspired our participants to dream bigger and believe in their potential. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate as we continue to empower and uplift our youth.
Attending The Price of Dedication: Why Self-Care is a Radical Act reinforced the importance of modeling balance and well-being, especially for those of us in leadership roles who often overextend ourselves in service of others. Dr. Brown-Elize reminded me that sustaining equity-driven work requires intentional self-care—not just for personal welfare, but to remain effective, empathetic, and visionary in advocating for students. The dialogue helped reframe self-care as a necessary leadership practice, not a luxury, and aligned with my belief that student success begins with healthy, supported educators and administrators.
Dr. Rashitta Brown-Elize set me back on the path to finishing my degree after a very general conversation about my work. Her academic counseling and support came at a time when I really needed direction, and her encouragement to finish my degree made all the difference. Dr. Brown-Elize didn’t just offer advice—she created space and essentially an opportunity by connecting me with all the right people. She was open for ideas to grow and believed in my potential. That kind of mentorship and support gave me the confidence to finish what I once started quite a few years ago. I’m genuinely grateful for the role she played in my journey.
I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Brown-Elize in various capacities in higher education, and I can honestly say she is one of my greatest mentors and inspirations.
She modeled what it means to be a compassionate yet highly effective leader, something that is very needed in higher education. Through her mentorship, she inspired me to continue my education and pursue a Doctorate degree, something that, as a first-generation Latina, once felt unattainable.
Dr. Brown-Elize is one of the most caring and committed mentors I have ever had, continually pushing me to grow both personally and professionally. Her guidance and belief in me have made a lasting impact on my journey, and I am deeply grateful for her presence in my life.
Working with Dr. Brown-Elize as the Dean of Counseling was consistently a positive and collaborative experience. In the R.I.S.E. (Reflect, Improve, Succeed, Excel) office, our primary responsibility is to support students on academic and/or progress guidance (formerly academic/progress probation) in regaining good academic standing. A shared commitment to equitable access for all students served as the foundation of our collaboration, and Dr. Brown-Elize actively supported this vision. Her emphasis on inclusive strategies and data-informed decision-making ensured that our interventions were both targeted and effective. Dr. Brown-Elize’s student-centered approach made her an invaluable partner and a pleasure to work with.
Working alongside Dr. Rashitta Brown-Elize early in my career was transformational. Her mentorship, critical guidance, and unwavering commitment to student success inspired me to pursue both my Master's at CSUN and ultimately my Doctorate in Education at USC. Her example and encouragement gave me the tools and belief I needed to grow into leadership, and her voice has been present at every major milestone in my journey to becoming a CSU Administrator. Dr. Brown-Elize doesn’t just mentor she empowers you to lead with purpose and pursue excellence.
My journey with Rashitta began through mentorship in my early college years as part of a student support services program and deepened during my graduate studies, where she served as a professor. Her insight challenged me to reimagine student success and equity, and helped me grow into an intentional leader who centers her work on the needs of the community they serve. When I stepped into my first management role, Rashitta’s steady support, wisdom, and belief in me made all the difference. I have poured so much of myself into education and leadership, and her mentorship remains one of the most transformative influences in my professional life.
