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National Peace Corps Association > About Us > Our Staff > Erica Burman – Communications
Erica Burman – Communications
Director of Communications
The Gambia 1987-1989
Phone: (202) 293-7728 ext. 16
Email (preferred means of contact): news @ peacecorpsconnect.org
Facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/peacecorpsnews
In addition to editing WorldView magazine, Erica oversees all of NPCA’s communications, public relations, marketing, branding, and social media. She pioneered NPCA’s use of online communities and social media – establishing an early Peace Corps community presence on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and moving the organization to an electronic newsletter – in an ongoing effort to connect the historically fragmented Peace Corps community and to better tell our stories.
Erica was a Peace Corps education Volunteer in The Gambia – the lone English teacher in a “maths” training group and one half of the group’s only couple. In the late 1990s she lived in Botswana, where her husband worked as Peace Corps staff for four years. Peace Corps is truly a family affair: her older daughter was 10 weeks old when the family moved to Gaborone and the younger was born there. While in Botswana, Erica consulted for World Resources Institute, World Learning/SIT and USAID.
Upon returning to the U.S., Erica pursued a career as a freelance writer before joining NPCA. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post and other publications. Prior to NPCA, Erica worked with National Wildlife Federation’s Corporate Conservation Council, the African environmental governance program of World Resources Institute (WRI), and as a researcher for a team of National Geographic documentary filmmakers developing a project on global population issues.
Erica holds a B.A. in International Relations from George Washington University and spent her junior year at the University of Munich. She obtained an M.A. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Erica grew up in Connecticut, but as a first generation American with a foot on each side of the Atlantic, she’s always had a global perspective. Newshound, blogger, keeper of old friends…writing and staying in touch are what she’s about. She keeps good dark (Swiss) chocolate in her desk drawer and her iPhone nearby at all times.
Connect to Erica on Facebook — I am happy to accept friend requests! Then “like” our Facebook page.
Check our Media Resources Page.
Have a Communications question? Try our Communications FAQs.
Notable Media Mentions
- Senator Lautenberg Introduces Bill to Protect Reproductive Rights of Peace Corps Volunteers (quoted in Lautenberg press release) 4/25/13
- Do You Know a Global Leader Who Was Influenced by the Peace Corps? (Huffington Post) 1/31/13
- The winners of PR Daily’s 2012 Digital and Social Media Awards - NPCA received honorable mention in the Best Blog category – (PRDaily.com) 1/25/13
- Op-Ed: The Peace Corps Knows What Makes Global Leaders Great by Erica Burman (TakePart.com) 1/25/13
- 19 Best Association Websites – (Social Driver Blog) 11/29/12
- Director of Communications Erica Burman on Africa Rural Connect Contest (Africa in View – CVC Media) 11/5/12 Broadcasts to 36 African countries via live shortwave, satellite, FM and via affiliate radio stations.
- The Finalists in our Digital and Social Media PR Awards for 2012 [Erica Burman & Molly Mattessich for Best Blog] (PR Daily) 10/25/12
- Peace Corps Service Expands Career Options (Huffington Post) 8/13/12
- The Hardest Adjustment in Peace Corps is Coming Home (Huffington Post) 7/16/12
- Interview with Lee Valsvik (Clear Channel: KDWB 101.3 FM, Twin Cities News Talk 1130 AM, The FAN 100.3 FM, K102 FM, Cities 97 FM, and KOOL 108 FM) – 7/1/12
- Lookin’ for love: Organizations, Valentines and Social Media (Idealist.com) 2/14/2012
- How the Peace Corps is Building a Community of Volunteers Online (Mashable) 1/29/12
- 3-minute interview: Erica Burman (Washington Examiner) 1/2/12
- Five Nonprofits that Have Found Their Facebook Voice (Nonprofit Tech 2.0) 3/14/11
- Peace Corps 50th Anniversary: Interview of Erica Burman and Priscilla Goldfarb on Kathleen Dunn Program (Wisconsin Public Radio) 2/22/11
- Allentown Woman learns life lessons in Peace Corps, wins $2,500 (Pittsburgh Tribune Review) 11/11/10
- Video Contest Honors Peace Corps (Chronicle of Philanthropy) – 9/6/10
- Peace Corps Uses Videos Sharing to Mark 50th (Read, Write, Web) – 08/26/10
- Peace Corps Community Resources: An Interview with Erica Burman and Molly Mattessich of the National Peace Corps Association (Idealist.org) – 08/21/09
- Social Media for Social Good – interviewed, book blurb
Director of Communications

