Erica was born and raised in New Orleans. She was always interested in international issues and studies, and after 9/11 she grew particularly interested in issues of security and justice. After graduating with a degree in international relations, Erica wanted to experience the challenges of living in a developing country and took a fellowship position in Egypt. She has since lived in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Ethiopia, among other countries, working on civilian protection, education, and victims' rights for organizations such as USIP and the Open Society Initiative.