Elise Marie Tolbert is an Environmental Health Scientist and Public Health Practitioner who currently works as the Deputy Director of Partner Engagement at the Climate Action Campaign. In her role, she leads highly visible, highly effective campaigns and activities that engage Black-American, Faith, Environmental Justice, and Youth based organizations to demand action and legislation on the global climate crisis. At an early age, she developed a deep passion for the natural environment, which later molded her career interest in the environmental field. 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, and environmental and social justice. She has employed her interest working as a Program Manager at Tuskegee University’s Water Quality Outreach and Testing Program and as an Environmental Health Fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Elise is also the Founder and CEO of Next Step Up, a non-profit organization that empowers high school students to pursue their dreams by providing mentoring and tutoring. Ms. Tolbert lives by motto “Blaze your own trail,” which reminds her of her responsibility to follow her heart and create a path for others.