Her Story
About Erica
Erica Leigh serves as an Assistant Professor at SUNY New Paltz in New York. She has been teaching since 2013, initially in graduate school, and earned her PhD from Ohio University in 2020. Her specialization is in English, Rhetoric and Composition, with additional experience in Technical and Professional Communication. She also teaches Communication and Writing courses in the Second Chance Pell College in Prison Program through SUNY Potsdam. Leigh is a member of the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition and the Rhetoric Society of America. Her research explores topics such as feminist food writing, body acceptance, and societal pressures on women, and she has a forthcoming book titled Cooking, Eating, and Social Pressures of a Domestic Identity: A Rhetorical Complex of Womanhood, scheduled for publication in February 2027 through Bloomsbury.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Erica
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my generous mentors, along with staying curious, leading with kindness and compassion, and focusing on helping people, not just getting things done.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't worry about the people that give you negative feedback, you don't need them. Especially with publishing, sometimes a review or two can be harsh or critical, but don't let it stop you. Your work is solid, just keep going.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Your voice doesn't have to be the loudest to be influential. Let your integrity guide your work.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in Rhetoric and Composition is helping students become thoughtful, ethical communicators during a time when technology is changing how we write, learn, and connect.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think hope is one of the most powerful values we can have. It reminds me to look for potential instead of limitations.
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