The Essence of Excellence

Liz Posey ’03 doesn’t take no for an answer. She used her can-do attitude to create change at Lewis & Clark, and now she’s using it in the workforce.

Essence magazine recently honored Posey’s accomplishments at Lewis & Clark by naming her one of its top 10 college women of the year. The award is based on both academic excellence and social responsibility.

While at Lewis & Clark, Posey earned a BA in psychology as a Massengale and Rogers scholar. She served as vice president of the Black Student Union, coordinated a panel on environmental racism for the environmental Affairs Symposium, served as a resident assistant for three years, and helped create a multicultural floor in Akin Hall. She also tutored students at Jefferson High School in algebra and math.

Following graduation, Posey returned to her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, where she’s already making an impact as a policy consultant. Her clients include the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and Reclaiming Futures, a project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that focuses on community building and finding solutions to substance abuse and crime among youth.

“The Essence award means a lot to me because of what the magazine represents—intelligent, strong, talented black women who are making a difference,” says Posey. “I am honored to be among the talented young women who have received this award.”