“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
— Audre Lorde
Erica Stephens (she/her) is a Black American poet, writer, and performer from Southern Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology. Her debut collection of poetry, Black Doves Fly to Freedom, was published August 2021.
She is a Master of Public Health candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, focusing on epidemiology and biostatistics. Erica aims to harness data science, technology, and storytelling to strengthen health systems, improve population health, and amplify community voices.
Beyond her literary endeavors, Erica is a fierce advocate for research, advocacy, and social justice. Her time as a trainee at the National Cancer Institue underscored her commitment to equitable research and healthcare.
To view Erica’s peer-reviewed publications, click here.