Erica has learned first hand what it is like to struggle and persevere through courage and determination . Erica had to overcome much adversity with her hearing impairment to earn both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in order to become a history teacher. She is also a National Geographic certified educator and is always looking for experiences, books and courses to learn more about the world we live in.Erica is an avid traveler that has been to every state but Alaska. (Dang COVID ruined this one!) She enjoys hiking, kayaking and exploring National Parks with her husband and three children as well as historical locations with her "road trip wife". Erica has also been known to escape for solo adventures where she can explore her inner Civil War nerd or get lost in art galleries and museums around the country. Erica recently tried her hand at archaeology and can't wait to learn more about past people by finding artifacts in the dirt.Although most of her struggles she endured alone, over her lifetime Erica has learned that we are truly "stronger together". She believes that education, empathy, and collaboration are what is needed to make this world a better place.