Elizabeth Elices: A Heritage of Hard Work

Elizabeth Elices, or Liz, is known as a hardworking professional who takes on her job of handling legal and compliance matters for Caldwell University with expert precision. On a given day, she might spend most of her time in meetings and discussions with university staff. Or she might be focused on reviewing policies, learning about legal and regulatory changes that impact Caldwell, or planning training programs. On another day, an unexpected concern or issue might crop up and take over her calendar. She can’t afford to demand a consistent routine, and that’s okay with her. In fact, her ability to problem solve and adapt to the needs around her is something she traces back to her Hispanic heritage.

“I think that having a connection to more than one culture has made me more adaptable and open minded,” the daughter of Cuban immigrants shares. “I’m used to thinking about things from more than one perspective, which is an advantage in many ways.”

“I don’t take any opportunity for granted. I am very aware of the sacrifices made by my family that made it possible for me to be where I am today.”

It is no accident then, that Elices is celebrated for her work ethic. She credits her attitude to a feeling of gratitude towards her family. She is very conscious of how much easier it is for her to access opportunities as the first person from her family born in the United States.

“I don’t take any opportunity for granted. I am very aware of the sacrifices made by my family that made it possible for me to be where I am today.”

Elices has found in Caldwell a community where employees are dedicated to their roles in running the university, and that made it a natural fit for her. She loves seeing the environment that culture of dedication creates for students and said that “it makes working here especially rewarding.” 

Now that her work life has shifted with COVID-19, Elices is thankful for the commitment shown by everyone working with and around her at Caldwell, even if she isn’t interacting with those people in person. “I think it has been really interesting to see how quickly people have adapted to working and interacting through a camera,” she says. She’s conscious that such a change isn’t easy. “It’s a huge shift, and the fact that we’re able to keep things running, and we’re able to get our jobs done, is impressive.”

With her reputation for hard work and adaptability, it is no surprise that Elices hasn’t missed a beat even while working from home. But she has been impressed by the Caldwell staff around her as well . “It’s worth stepping back and looking at that, and saying ‘Wow, we’re pulling this off.’”

-Nicole Burrell Verrengia ‘09