Erika Hawthorne

Interim Executive Director

Erika Hawthorne (she/her) brings over 10 years of experience in arts administration, funding, and community engagement roles spanning the nonprofit, government and business sectors. Erika leverages her expertise to champion human-centered leadership, build authentic relationships, facilitate collaboration, and advance social justice initiatives.

Erika was raised in community arts education programs and began her career as a teaching artist in her hometown with the Rockford Area Arts Council. Upon moving to the East Coast, Erika interned with the National Endowment for the Arts in the Arts Education department and continued working in grants management, event planning, and community engagement roles including working with the Bainum Family Foundation, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Erika also served as an equity research consultant for the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) before becoming AEP’s Engagement Specialist serving over 140 organizations and a growing network of individual arts affiliates.

As part of the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) DC Steering Committee, Erika served as a grant reviewer for multiple funding institutions and later returned to EPIP to serve as the national team’s Director of Membership and Communications. She also provided project management support for Leading Changemakers, a consulting firm focused on racial equity in nonprofit arts leadership, where she continues to lead special projects to advance the organization’s impact.

Erika holds a BA in Communication and Culture from Howard University as well as an MA in Arts Management and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from American University.

Erika has been involved with the Arts Administrators of Color Network since its inception, participating in the inaugural mentorship program, volunteering on the steering committee, and serving as a Founding Board member. As a former Executive Board member, she played a key role in driving AAC’s governance, development, and strategic planning work, contributing to AAC's exponential growth. Returning to AAC as a staff member has provided her with a unique and exciting opportunity to continue advancing AAC’s mission, prioritizing the needs of artists and arts administrators of the global majority.