Biography

Erica P. Middleton is Project Director for ASCEND-AI in the Office of Academic Innovation and Student Success within the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University. She oversees ASCEND-AI, a four-year, $4 million FIPSE-funded grant between Howard University and Bowie State University designed to build sustainable AI literacy capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through faculty development, youth and student programming, and inter-institutional collaboration.

With over a decade of experience in research, project delivery, and community engagement, Erica’s work sits at the intersection of education, ethics, and wellness. She is especially passionate about supporting and empowering students and young people and is committed to cultivating opportunities where they can thrive, lead, and feel a strong sense of belonging.

Throughout her tenure at Howard University, Erica has held several roles reflecting her growth and commitment to the institution’s mission. She most recently served as an Assistant Program Manager in the Office of the Dean of the Chapel, where she led the strategy, design, and execution of initiatives focused on faith, service, justice, and wellness. She advised the student organizations, the Howard University Chapel Assistants, the Howard University Coalition for Good Trouble, and the Radical Reflections Book Club, and was the co-creator and moderator of the Communal Conversations series, providing mentorship, leadership development, and a platform for dialogue on pressing social and ethical issues.

Earlier in her time at Howard, Erica served as a Research Assistant to Dean Kenyatta R. Gilbert and as a Graduate Assistant to Dean Bernard L. Richardson. She also served as a Research Associate at the Judge Alexander Williams Center for Education, Justice, and Ethics, further grounding her work in research and social impact.

Erica holds a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology-Anthropology from Towson University and an M.A. in Religious Studies, with a concentration in Ethics and Social Justice, from Howard University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Outside of her professional role, Erica is deeply committed to service. She volunteers as Director of Student Activities for the Project Management Institute Washington, DC Chapter, where she leads leadership development initiatives for collegiate students interested in project and program management. She also serves as a Morgridge Acceleration Program (MAP) Fellow, a project-based fellowship that pairs nonprofit executives with mid-career professionals committed to social impact.

Erica is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the devoted dog mom of Sassy Techno. Ask her what P.O.I.S.E. means to her!