Staff Biography
Erika D. Tucker, AMFT
CWDS Director
edtucker@sdsu.edu
Erika brings over 20 years of extensive experience in child welfare as a former social worker, supervisor, trainer, and leader in workforce development. With a career rooted in advocacy, equity, and healing-centered practices, Erika brings a trauma-informed foundation in recovery oriented practices. As the Director, Erika will oversee the CWDS program, managing a talented team of professionals. She will lead strategic planning and service delivery across our seven Southern California partner counties—Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties
Erika joined the Academy as a Consultant before being promoted to Manager and now Director of CWDS. She has played a key role in supporting county partnerships, developing curricula, and designing innovative training and coaching experiences to improve practice and outcomes for children and families. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, which grounds her work in a deep understanding of human behavior, relational dynamics, and resilience-building.
In addition to her professional credentials, Erika is known for her strategic mind, connectedness, leading with compassion, positivity, and fierce dedication to people and purpose. As a leader, she believes in fostering a culture of belonging, reflection, and continuous learning. She is especially passionate about advancing race equity, supporting adaptive leadership, and cultivating the kind of collaborative relationships that make true systems change possible.