Her Story
About Latisha
She is an accomplished paralegal, advocate, and academic professional with over three decades of experience at Seton Hall University School of Law's Center for Social Justice. Currently serving as a Paralegal for the Equal Justice Clinic, Immigrants' Rights and International Human Rights Clinic, and Civil Litigation and Practice, she supports legal research, case preparation, and clinical education. She also serves as a Senior Paralegal at Seton Hall University School of Law, where she has worked since 2002, conducting legal research, preparing case briefs, coordinating events, supervising research assistants, and supporting faculty. In addition, she is a Deaf Mentor with the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, where she engages with families, conducts home visits, maintains records, and provides guidance to parents of deaf children, and a Blog Contributor for The Mind Hears, a publication written by and for academics with hearing loss. Her earlier career includes serving as Secretary to the Dean of Student Services and Secretary in the Faculty Department at Seton Hall Law School. Her career reflects a deep commitment to social justice, legal advocacy, accessibility, and supporting both academic and deaf communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Latisha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering belief that representation matters. As a Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing woman, educator, author, and advocate, I have learned to turn barriers into opportunities to create change.
My success has never been about simply achieving something for myself. It is about using my education, lived experiences, and creativity to open doors for others. Through my work and the Mighty Hearoes children’s book series, I am creating stories where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children can see themselves represented while learning about STEM, leadership, self-advocacy, inclusion, and the world around them.
I also attribute my success to consistency. I keep creating, learning, advocating, and showing up—even when opportunities do not come easily. I believe success is not measured only by recognition or accolades, but by the lives we touch and what we leave behind for the next generation. That sense of purpose continues to drive everything I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to never stop learning, never be afraid to advocate for myself, and never allow someone else to define what I am capable of achieving. I have carried that advice throughout my career.
I learned that your career does not have to follow a straight path. Every experience can prepare you for something greater if you remain open to growth. I began my professional journey decades ago, continued my education all the way through earning my PhD, and eventually expanded my work into authorship, advocacy, research, and creating the Mighty Hearoes children’s book series.
Most importantly, I have learned to create opportunities when the door I need does not exist. Sometimes you have to build the door yourself—and then hold it open for someone coming behind you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to never stop learning, never be afraid to advocate for myself, and never allow someone else to define what I am capable of achieving. I have carried that advice throughout my career.
I learned that your career does not have to follow a straight path. Every experience can prepare you for something greater if you remain open to growth. I began my professional journey decades ago, continued my education all the way through earning my PhD, and eventually expanded my work into authorship, advocacy, research, and creating the Mighty Hearoes children’s book series.
Most importantly, I have learned to create opportunities when the door I need does not exist. Sometimes you have to build the door yourself—and then hold it open for someone coming behind you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My advice to young women is to know your value before you enter any room. Do not wait for someone else to validate your ideas, your intelligence, or your ability to lead. Continue learning, ask questions, find mentors, build meaningful relationships, and never be afraid to advocate for yourself.
There will be times when you are underestimated or when your path looks different from everyone else’s. Keep going. Some of the greatest opportunities can come from having the courage to create what you do not see.
Most importantly, bring your authentic self with you. Your experiences and your perspective have value. You do not have to fit someone else’s definition of success—you can create your own and make the path wider for the women coming behind you.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
One of the biggest challenges—and greatest opportunities—in my field right now is ensuring that accessibility and representation keep pace with rapidly changing technology. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are transforming education, workplaces, publishing, and the way we communicate, but innovation must include people with disabilities from the beginning rather than as an afterthought.
I also see an enormous opportunity to change whose stories are told and who gets to see themselves represented. Through my work as an educator, advocate, researcher, and creator of the Mighty Hearoes children’s book series, I have seen how powerful it can be when Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children see characters who reflect their experiences while exploring STEM, leadership, environmental responsibility, and the world around them.
The challenge before us is not simply keeping up with change. It is making sure that as we move forward, we build a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and be seen.
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