“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 in August 2021.
She is a Master of Public Health candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, focused on health systems and data analytics. With training in epidemiology and biostatistics, Erica uses data-driven insights to analyze resource allocation and guide decision-making across health systems.
Beyond her literary endeavors, Erica is deeply committed to improving public health. Her time as a trainee at the National Cancer Institute strengthened her dedication to rigorous, data-driven research and expanding access to high-quality care.
To view Erica’s peer-reviewed publications, click here.