Erika recently completed her master’s degree in Environmental Studies and is just embarking upon a career in research. While nearly every topic at the intersections of people and the environment and science and policy interests her, she is particularly passionate about sustainability, equity, resilience, and justice within food systems. Her graduate work at University of Montana focused on local food policy and governance, and she also completed an NSF-funded training program centered on bridging science to practice at the food-energy-water nexus. For her master’s professional paper, she had the opportunity to interview several food policy professionals working within local governments across the U.S. and developed a report and recommendations for communities interested in strengthening their local food policy efforts.

Erika has experience with both qualitative and quantitative projects and is interested in research that leverages mixed method approaches to explore complex socioecological issues. She is particularly excited about practitioner-focused and community-based research.

Erika grew up in Santa Barbara, CA and found her way to the Rockies by way of Colorado College, where she studied Environmental Science as an undergraduate. She moved to Missoula with her partner in 2016 and received her MS in Environmental Studies at University of Montana in May 2020. In her free time, she loves adventuring in the wilds of Montana with her two tireless birddogs, making clothes, cooking, and learning the countless DIY skills involved in converting a school bus into a tiny home.