Elizabeth Rice
College of Arts & Sciences
Tell us about what you're doing with your life
After graduating from Cornell, I returned home [to Puerto Rico] to attend law school. The first 20 years of my career I spent as a civil litigation attorney, initially for medium firms, subsequently establishing my own small firm. I was then hired as the in-house counsel for one of Puerto Rico’s largest commercial real estate management firms, where I spent 12 years. Then, instead of contemplating retirement, I was honored to be nominated as Superior Court Judge for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. So I am fulfilling the career of my dreams right now! I am also the proudest mother of two handsome and charming adult sons, Juan Jose and Ricardo Vilella; and grandmother to the cutest toddler Aurora Vilella.
What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found most useful?
The classes I found most useful at Cornell were the English writing seminars. Honing my skills for thought organization and clarity of expression have been crucial in every step of my career. Today, as a judge, not a day goes by that I don’t have to put into use at least one skill learned in those seminars. I hope all colleges adopt the practice of requiring writing seminars in their curriculum—especially now that much is lost in the brevity of emails and text messages. I also enjoyed immensely the courses of my Latin American Studies minor.
What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
Honestly, discovering warm buttered cinnamon raisin bagels! Now seriously: meeting people of different countries and beliefs and learing first hand of their customs, practices and ideas. Putting in practice the respect for diversity my parents taught me. Also realizing that despite the superficial differences, we all pursue the same universal goals.
Which Cornell classmates do you keep in touch with?
My lifelong friends and core support group consists of fellow Puerto Rican students that I met in Cornell and their spouses: Pedro Roldán, ILR ‘84; José G. Amador, Architecture ‘84; Jesús Graña, Agriculture ‘84; Elizabeth Suárez, Engineering ‘84. I can also include Melisa Quiñoy, Agriculture, ‘84 and our President John Toohey, Agriculture ‘84, yet those I have known since grade school!
How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
Having graduated from Cornell I know I can take a challege—from any front. Organize the ordeal into steps, work the steps, review, and reorganize, if necessary. There!
Cornell taught me endurance and reinforced the belief in myself. It was character building in a cuasi-military sense, in a good way.
I also learned there is no wrong opinion and that there is a lot to be learned from different opinions. Just listen with an open mind.
I will always be grateful for the endurance, character building and open mindedness I gained in Cornell.
If you could change anything about your Cornell experience, what would it be?
I would have socialized more. Perhaps practiced a hobby: entered a knitting club for example. I would have taken more breaks from the books.
What does being a Cornell alumnus mean to you?
Having Cornell on my resume has opened many doors throughout my career. I know I belong to a club of excellence and open-heartedness.
What are you most looking forward to at Reunion 2024?
Well Facetime! What else?
I’m looking forward to rejoining with acquaintances and old friends. I hope some 83’ers and 85’ers join us since I had some friends in those classes to.
I am especially looking forward to a walk around campus to appreciate the inmense changes I have heard have taken place in the last 40 years.