Dr. Erika Hunt

Biography

Dr. Erika Hunt is Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Education Policy (CSEP) at Illinois State University, where she leads statewide and national initiatives to strengthen education leadership systems, redesign educator preparation, and advance workforce innovation. For more than two decades, she has translated research into policy and large-scale implementation, helping education systems move beyond isolated initiatives toward coherent, sustainable improvement.

Dr. Hunt has helped secure and direct more than $60 million in federal, state, and foundation funding and has extensive experience bringing together policymakers, practitioners, universities, state agencies, and philanthropic organizations to transform complex ideas into scalable solutions. Her work has shaped landmark legislation and policy initiatives in Illinois and New Mexico, including redesigning principal preparation, mentoring, and leadership development systems. In recognition of this work, she received the 2014 Frank Newman State Innovation Award from the Education Commission of the States for Illinois' groundbreaking principal preparation reforms. She also served for 12 years on the Illinois Governor's P–20 Council, helping align policy across early childhood, K–12, higher education, and the workforce.

Dr. Hunt was a founding leader of the ROE Lead Hubs, where she directed cross-agency partnerships that expanded leadership pipelines and strengthened connections between policy and practice. She also founded and operated a childcare center for 17 years, grounding her perspectives in early learning and the day-to-day realities of education systems.

Today, Dr. Hunt's work focuses on the future of education systems, including leadership systems, educator workforce development, innovative pathways into the profession, and organizational transformation. She partners with states, school districts, higher education institutions, and national organizations to design leadership systems that build organizational capacity and improve outcomes for educators and students alike.

Dr. Hunt holds a Ph.D. in Educational Organization and Leadership with a concentration in P–20 Education Policy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also earned a Professional Certificate in Foresight from the University of Houston, bringing a strategic futures perspective to her work helping education leaders anticipate emerging trends and design systems prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.