Erica R. Phillips was an Educational Equity and Policy Specialist at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center from 2018 through 2025. She served on the Educational Policy working group, focusing on K-12 students. Erica was a research associate for a federal grant studying the benefits and inequities of gifted programming. She has an M.A. in Educational Equity, Policy, and Reform from Duke University and B.A. in Elementary Education with a specialization in Spanish Language and Literature from The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Erica came to The Cook Center with previous experience as a public school teacher. Working in both Durham Public Schools and Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, Erica believes in developing the whole child, balancing culturally-responsive teaching methods with maintaining high academic expectations. Her educational passions align with removing barriers for all people to reach their fullest potential, through community organizing and policy changes.