Staff Snapshots | Erica Warren.

• Author: Warren, Erica

May 20, 2022 | State Legislatures News

NCSL connection: Warren is the vice chair of NCSL's Research, Editorial, Legal and Committee Staff (RELACS) association.

Years of legislative service: 21

Who inspires her: "Every day my co-workers inspire me. The intelligence, dedication and humor they bring to their challenging jobs--while juggling the demands and questions of legislators, lobbyists and the public--is amazing."

Why did you choose to work at the legislature?

As a political science major in college, I had a chance to talk with a policy analyst for a U.S. senator about her job of helping her boss craft policy initiatives, and I knew instantly that this was how I wanted to use my degree. I didn't care about the politics but was deeply interested in the policies and how our representatives came to agreement.

What skill or talent are you most proud of?

Professionally, I'm most proud of my ability to edit legislation and help our bill drafters deliver the best version of a bill to a sponsor. Personally, I've been a choral singer since childhood and enjoy being a part of something that is greater than the individual parts when we perform.

What's the best advice you were ever given?

"Find someone in your career with a little more experience and let them mentor you." I have had several mentors over the course of my career, and they have been invaluable resources whenever I faced a challenging situation. And I often learned simply by watching them react to issues they were facing.

What's one thing you love about your state?

I love to hike, so I enjoy the many local and state parks where there are hiking trails and I can get away from the busyness of life. I also...