My name is Elisse White, and I am a Human Resources and Organizational Behavior professional with a strong foundation in STEM and a deep passion for people, leadership, and building thriving cultures. I bring a strategic and empathetic approach to driving employee engagement, implementing organizational change, and developing programs that connect people to purpose. My work has been recognized through the Changemaker Award from Women in Leadership, the Emerging Leadership Scholarship, the UC Davis Community Service Award Bronze Recognition, the Davis Women in Business General Associate Award, and the Davis Women in Business Alumni Newsletter Senior Spotlight.
My collegiate academic journey began at Sierra College, where I earned four Associate's degrees in Allied Health, Natural Science, Social & Behavioral Science, and Biological Science, all with Honors, alongside a Certificate of Allied Health. During this time, I served as President of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Sierra College Chapter, earning the Phi Theta Kappa All-California First Team distinction and the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Officer Award. I then transferred to UC Davis, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Technology Management, where I also was an active member of Davis Women in Business, and ultimately was invited to speak on behalf of all 151 general associates at the Annual Spring Banquet. During my undergraduate years at UC Davis I also served as Logistics Coordinator for the Prytanean Women's Honor Society and actively worked to changeWhite 2 the internal policies to allow transfer students an opportunity to become members of Prytanean. I went on to pursue my STEM designated MBA at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management with emphases in Organizational Behavior and Healthcare Immersion, where I served as a Teaching Assistant for MGT-150 Organizational Behavior and MGT-140 Marketing, and as Co-President of Prytanean Women's Honor Society the Alumni Chapter. I also earned my Collaborative Leadership Certificate after two years of consistent volunteer work, and successfully graduated with my masters in June 2024.
Since completing my MBA, I have brought my knowledge into practice as a Training Specialist at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento, where I lead new hire orientations, deliver policy training, partner with community organizations on employee wellness initiatives, and create engagement events that connect team members to the company's culture and values.
Being selected as a 2026-2027 HR Tomorrow Fellow is an honor I do not take lightly. This fellowship represents a meaningful opportunity to deepen my understanding of the policies and practices that drive real organizational change, and also connects me to a cohort of passionate HR professionals who share a commitment to making a lasting impact. I am especially grateful for the continued exposure to SHRM and the resources, relationships, and perspectives this program will afford me as I grow in my career.
