Erika L. Wood

Erika L. Wood works on the Civic Engagement and Government team. Her grant making seeks to expand democratic participation in the United States, promote greater representation in elections, and shape agendas to reflect the public interest, with a focus on promoting voting rights and other aspects of inclusive nonpartisan democratic practice.

Before joining the foundation, Erika was a professor of law at New York Law School where she directed the Voting Rights and Civic Participation Project. Prior to that, she was deputy director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice and taught the Public Policy Advocacy Clinic at the New York University School of Law. Erika has designed and launched major reform campaigns around the country, litigated complex civil rights cases, and provided legal counsel and strategic guidance to advocates, legislators, and policy makers nationwide. She has authored numerous articles and reports and is a frequent speaker and commentator on voting rights, criminal justice reform, and racial justice issues.

Erika earned her juris doctor degree from Rutgers School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from New York University.