Director of Benefits & Compensation
I really enjoy one-on-one interaction with employees. It is my favorite part of the job.”
By Tiffianie Perritt
Erica is a Houston native and began her 17-year career with UHD as an administrative assistant. She was later promoted to department business administrator and began working closely with ESO compensation, which eventually led to the role of compensation and benefits administrator and then director of benefits & compensation.
“I really enjoy one-on-one interactions with employees. It is my favorite part of the job,” Erica said. Her work often encompasses the “bigger picture,” but she finds it refreshing when she’s afforded the opportunity to help employees individually when they have questions.
Erica earned Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston-Downtown and Master of Business Administration – Executive Management from Texas Women’s University.
As Director of Benefits & Compensation, Erica oversees the University’s pay structure to ensure pay rates are current and competitive. In addition, she manages UHD’s Employee Benefits Program, which provides employee insurance, retirement and savings plans.
Erica’s husband Lorenzo also works for UHD and they have three children—Elissa, Sebastian and stepdaughter Kylie, a UHD freshman. Her youngest, Sebastian, is a Hurricane Harvey Baby. He was born on the first day of the hurricane in Houston in 2017. Erica recounts how due to Harvey, she had to stay in the hospital longer after giving birth and that most of their baby items, as well as one of the family’s cars and many of their personal possessions, were destroyed in the flooding.
Despite the challenges that come with her job, Erica loves working at UHD. “I really like that UHD is smaller and personable. The interactions are genuine.”
The HUB Employee 