Erickson was raised and educated in the South. After raising and educating her three, now grown, children she entered The University of the South School of Theology, earned her M.Div., and was ordained into the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She served as minister to one congregation for nine years and then as Executive Director of the Chattanooga Habitat for Humanity for three years. She has been an avid student of ancient history, especially for the Middle East, most of her life and has traveled in that area several times.