Erika Smith has dedicated over 20 years to the non-profit sector, working with organizations such as the Girl Scouts, the American Liver Foundation, and several Houston-based non-profits. In 2015, Erika took a bold leap and relocated to New York City with aspirations of making her mark in the music industry. She worked as a Talent Agent, booking concerts and tours for national recording artists, before transitioning into Experiential Marketing, where she produced brand activations for major companies including Toyota, Netflix, and Coca-Cola. But in the midst of that season, God redirected her path in an unexpected way.”

Her journey eventually led her to YoungLives Global, where she now serves as Operations Manager. In this role, Erika oversees logistics, marketing, and communications for the global office. She finds joy in collaborating with her team and functional staff to develop strategies that help advance YoungLives’ mission. One of her greatest joys is working with a diverse group of people both within the U.S. and internationally.

Erika is a certified Change Management Practitioner through Prosci and is currently pursuing a dual MDiv/MBA here at Palmer Seminary at Eastern University. She is married and a proud mother of two young boys and a college-aged bonus daughter. In her free time, she enjoys baking Southern-style desserts, inspired by the church bake sales of her childhood, and exploring her creativity as a content creator through her travel blog, Curious Wayfinder.

Erika is honored to serve as moderator for the inaugural Online Student Assembly. A proud Southerner, she deeply values community and understands what it’s like to long for connection in an online setting. She looks forward to using her skills and experience to help build a lasting community where online students feel seen, connected, and a true sense of belonging.