Erica Tontodonati holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with minors in Finance and Marketing from New Mexico State University (NMSU). She is certified in Departmental Research Administration and Fiscal Compliance by the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). She brings more than a decade of experience in program management, grants administration, and operational leadership in higher education.

Erica serves as the Program Manager for the Title IV-E Curriculum Grant within the Child Welfare Scholar Program at the School of Social Work. In this role, she oversees the program’s administrative and fiscal operations, ensuring compliance with university, state, and federal policies. Her responsibilities include financial management, grants and contracts administration, and program development in support of workforce preparation in child welfare.

Previously, Erica worked as a Program Coordinator with NMSU’s Crimson Research in the Public Health Sciences Department, where she managed multiple grant-funded initiatives and supported program effectiveness through strategic planning and analysis. She also brings expertise in marketing and communication, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. Erica is committed to advancing the mission of the Child Welfare Scholar Program and supporting student success at New Mexico State University.