Erika Takada, MPH, BA

Erika Takada, MPH, serves as the Executive Director of the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN). With over 20 years in the social sector, including 15 years in senior leadership roles, Erika is highly experienced in advancing public health initiatives.

As Executive Director, Erika leads PHI CWN in advancing health, wellness, and nutrition initiatives across communities. Her expertise in public health, trauma-informed practice, equity evaluation, and research is pivotal in driving the organization’s mission forward.

Erika’s commitment to equity, social justice, and innovation has been a hallmark of her career. She has successfully led impactful projects such as the evaluation of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s Starting Smart and Strong initiative and the Hawai’i Community Foundation’s Promising Minds Initiative. These projects aimed at improving early education quality and implementing trauma-informed strategies for vulnerable children.

Before her current role, Erika contributed significantly to the Public Health Institute as an Evaluation Specialist for California Project LEAN and the California Obesity Prevention Initiative. She developed and executed comprehensive evaluation plans for statewide nutrition and physical activity programs, including the successful implementation of the Food on the Run campaign, funded by The California Endowment, to promote healthy lifestyles.

Erika holds a Master of Public Health from San Diego State University and has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she taught qualitative evaluation skills.