Erika grew up on the farmlands and prairies of eastern Nebraska, where her early interest in wildlife was shaped by her father, a veterinarian. She gained hands-on experience assisting with procedures on the porch of their farmhouse and spent her free time exploring nearby creeks and fields, setting trail cameras and tracking animals along the edges of agricultural land.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, graduating with highest distinction. She later completed a Master of Science in wild animal biology at the Royal Veterinary College and the Zoological Society of London, graduating with distinction—the highest honor awarded in the UK education system. Her thesis evaluated the effectiveness of a wildlife corridor connecting Kruger National Park in South Africa with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

Erika’s additional research includes studying turtles and ground squirrels in Nebraska and conducting fieldwork in Namibia to assess how waterholes affect wildlife population estimates. She worked with World Wildlife Fund’s private sector engagement team, supporting global conservation partnerships, and with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Lab, contributing to research on bighorn sheep, elk, moose and deer.

Today, Erika guides U.S. national park trips, with a focus on Glacier National Park. She has also led conservation-focused student trips across Nebraska and a five-week journey across the United States. She lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, and enjoys international travel, with recent adventures in Namibia, Iceland and the Swiss Alps.