Erica Hildenbrand is in her 12th year with Penn Athletics and Recreation and her third as the Senior Director of Administration. In her many years at the University of Pennsylvania, Erica has held diverse roles that emphasize strategic engagement, community building, and executive-level coordination.
In her current role, Erica advances the Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics' (DRIA) core priorities by collaborating with internal departments to ensure alignment with divisional strategy. She oversees the centralized Quaker Fellowship and internship programs, providing leadership in recruitment, placement, and professional development. Additionally, she serves as a liaison to the admissions and financial aid departments, with a focus on process improvement.
Previously, Erica served as the Director of Programs for Penn Campus Recreation and the Director of Administration and Campus Outreach, promoting the benefits of Campus Recreation programming, physical fitness, and wellness, and fostering meaningful relationships with internal and external campus partners.
Before her time with Campus Rec, Erica spent five years as the Executive Assistant and Assistant Chief of Staff to Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, the former T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation. Her earlier roles at Penn included positions with the Business Services Division and the School of Nursing, demonstrating her broad expertise in program administration, event planning, and organizational collaboration.
A native of Syracuse, NY, Erica earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University in 2004 and her Master’s in Organizational Dynamics from Penn in 2024. A former competitive synchronized figure skater, she resides in Philadelphia with her fiancé and their dog, Malcolm.
