Dr.Erica Holloman- aka Dr E. earned her B.S. in Marine and Environmental Science and a M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science from Hampton University in 1998 and 2001, respectively.  In January 2012, she became the first African-American woman to obtain a doctoral degree in Marine Science from the  College of William & Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).  Dr E’s areas of expertise lie in the fields of marine and climate science, environmental risk assessments (human and ecological), community-based participatory research (CBPR), participatory action research (PAR), and environmental justice. In 2016, Dr. E established Ayika Solutions, Inc. (ASI), a family-owned environmental consulting firm that strives to co-create and co-manage the sacred spaces where sound science and authentic community engagement merge into implementable solutions. Currently under her leadership, ASI is co-developing and supporting the implementation of practical and sustainable environmental solutions within the Southeast Region of the USA. Dr. E has served as a member of the US EPA National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (2016 -2019), the Leadership Circle for Harambee House/Citizen for Environmental Justice (2019 -2024), the City of Atlanta’s Clean Energy Advisory Board (2020 -2023). She is currently serving as Editor for the peer-reviewed publication: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM), and as a  member of the Clean Water Fund Board,  the Conceptual Committee of Frontline Resource Institute (FRI),the Georgia Chapter of the National Women In Agriculture Association, the Black Sustainability Inc Board, and co-owner of Market 166 Grocery Store and Kitchen Co-op.  Together with her husband Gary, they are raising their four sons, Asim, Asad, Asir, and Asun, in her childhood home of East Point, GA.