Administrative Associate, Stanford d.school

With all her endeavors, Erika brings creativity, care, and innovation to the lives of her fellow human beings. Here at the d.school, Erika is our administrative associate, but she has also worked as a sixth-grade teacher in both East Palo Alto and Chicago, as a copywriter for an ad agency in Milwaukee, and as a “quick-service food hostess” at Walt Disney World. Today, Erika is happy to have found a community of like-spirited people who value improving others’ lives, near and far, while sharing with one another their diverse experiences and backgrounds.

Erika grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where, at age 3, she danced a pivotal role as the little girl on the end of the row in a ballet performance of Little Miss Muffet at the mall. After that taste of fame, there was no keeping her away from the spotlight. She has continued dancing her whole life, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2000 with a major in English and a minor in Dance.

After college, on the morning of September 11, 2001, Erika was on her way to Disney World for a dance audition. She was in a plane during the attacks, and had to make an unscheduled landing in Cleveland, Ohio. She never made it to her audition, but she was thankful to be able to get home to Milwaukee again safely.

While Erika was living in Milwaukee, she wanted to make a difference in underserved neighborhoods by teaching, so she enrolled at Marquette University to become certified in elementary education. During this time, Erika’s roommate from Iowa introduced her to Pat, a nice guy from Chicago, who would become her husband. When Erika finished school, she moved to Chicago and taught school on the West Side.

Erika and Pat moved to Palo Alto during the summer of 2006, when Pat began his residency in radiology at Stanford Hospital. Erika took a job in a sixth-grade classroom in East Palo Alto, but after the first year, elected to keep her sanity and switch careers. In her job search, she met the most amazing group of people, and they all worked right here in the d.school. Erika is thrilled to be part of this dynamic, positive environment, and to be living in California where she can ride her bike to work all year long.