Erica Avent is currently an assistant professor of teacher education at the University of Mississippi. Prior to this position, she was the coordinator with the LuckyDay Residential College. She has inspired and motivated Mississippi school children for 17 years, as a classroom teacher in grades 3-6 and as a school and district administrator.

A native of Forest, Mississippi, Dr. Avent served as a board member for the Mississippi Association of Educators. Additionally, she is a past mentor teacher with the Mississippi Teacher Fellowship Program. She is a National Board Certified Teacher who earned her Ed.S., M.A. and B.A from the University of Mississippi. In 2020, she received her Ed.D. in Elementary Education with an emphasis on African American teacher recruitment and retention in K-12.

She has expertise in community engagement, teacher mentorship and student success in K-12. She is a seasoned educator who has developed community initiatives and programs targeting the inclusiveness of African American students and communities. Her focus has been on helping diversify the teacher pipeline so that all students can see representations of African American teachers in their schools. She currently resides in Oxford, Mississippi, with her husband, Shawn, and her daughters, Aubrey and Jordyn.