She was a 1945 graduate of Mentor High School, graduated from Miami University of Ohio, Phi Beta Kappa in 1949, and was awarded an M.A. in American Literature from Columbia University, NY, in 1951.

Erica holds degrees from the University of Rochester (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude) and ArtsEd London, and was the 2016 University of Rochester Commencement Speaker.