Elise Marie Tolbert is a native of Tuskegee, Alabama who is committed to improving communities, particularly those of color, by improving the quality of education, health and the environment, thus improving quality of life. Elise currently works as the Senior Energy Campaign Manager at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, DC. In her role, she leads a national campaign to modernize our nation’s energy grid by engaging Black-Americans, environmental justice, and youth groups in the decision-making process to ensure that they have a voice in the development of national policy and legislation. Elise is also the Founder and Executive Director of Next Step Up, a non-profit organization that has provided mentoring and tutoring to high school students in Tuskegee for the past 12 years. In this role, she enjoys leading volunteers, community members, and others in initiatives that empower the students to reach their dreams.

At an early age she developed a deep passion for the natural environment, which later molded her career interest. Elise received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Tuskegee University and Masters of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan. Ms. Tolbert’s interests in public health lie at the intersection of climate change, environmental health policy, environmental justice and social justice. In 2021, Elise was awarded “Top 40 Environmental Justice Leaders Under 40.” This national award was presented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan, and is a national award which recognizes top leaders in the United States.

Elise is an active organizer in Tuskegee and recently organized and executed the Tuskegee Unity March for Justice which brought a crowd of over 300 people, law enforcement, and elected officials to stand in solidarity for racial justice. She is also the co-founder of the newly founded Macon County Youth Council, which seeks to organize young people for positive change in Macon County. Elise is a Christian and loves the Lord and her church family. She lives by motto “Blaze your own trail,” which reminds her of her responsibility to follow her heart and create a path for others.