Erica Walls

Dr. Erica Walls is an educator, mentor, and certified career coach.  Her expertise in social impact, dedication to students’ success, and commitment to excellence empower others to thrive academically, personally, and professionally. 

Erica’s practical approach to education helps students to bridge classroom learning with meaningful opportunities to do good in the world.  Since 2018, she has taught over 500 students in the fields of Human Services & Social Justice (HSSJ) and Public Policy & Administration.  Her courses – Human Services, Social Justice, Poverty & Social Policy, Social Entrepreneurship, Program Evaluation, and Public Service – strengthen students’ knowledge of social issues, facilitate service-learning in diverse communities, and encourage students to pursue their passions. 

She currently serves as Interim Director of the HSSJ program.  In this role, Erica ensures that students are on track for graduation, encourages them to earn advanced degrees, and helps them to develop professionally. She also assists faculty to effectively teach and mentor, and promotes the HSSJ program to internal and external stakeholders.   

In addition to teaching, Erica owns and leads the career services firm, Inspire to Excel.  She coaches women to gain and retain gooood jobs by clarifying their professional vision, creating and executing a plan, building confidence, sharpening skills, and marketing themselves effectively. She also speaks and trains groups across the country to achieve professional goals.

Erica holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, master’s degree in Nonprofit Management, and graduate certification in Social Entrepreneurship from Indiana University.  Most recently, she earned a PhD in Women’s Social Policy from The George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration. 

Throughout her extensive career in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Erica has helped 50+ organizations to achieve purposeful goals in women’s empowerment, education, diversity, healthcare, humanitarian aid, and workforce development.  She volunteers as a career coach at Suited for Change, helping women who earn low-income to gain the skills to achieve financial independence; and advocates for education, fair pay, and favorable working conditions.