Erica Layer is an operations leader with over 20 years of experience in global health and nonprofit strategy.

Erica previously served as CEO of D-tree International, a global health nonprofit operating across Sub-Saharan Africa with offices in five countries, and as COO of health.enabled, a global health nonprofit advisory firm. Across both roles, she led the operations, strategy, and growth of mission-driven organizations working in complex, resource-constrained environments.

At Root to Rise, Erica leads organizational systems, grants management, contractor compliance, and financial oversight, helping the team build the operational backbone to match its rapid growth. She also focuses on AI capacity building, helping Root to Rise's staff build the human and AI systems they need to work efficiently as the organization scales.

Erica is a Certified EOS Integrator and holds an MPH from Johns Hopkins University, a BA in Chemistry from the College of Saint Benedict, and a Master's Certificate in Project Management from Villanova University.