“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 aims to harness data science, technology, and storytelling to strengthen health systems, inform health policy, and improve population health.
Beyond her literary endeavors, Erica is deeply committed to advancing research and improving public health. Her time as a trainee at the National Cancer Institute strengthened her commitment to delivering high-quality research and expanding access to quality healthcare.
To view Erica’s peer-reviewed publications, click here.