Eric Nicola is from Chatham, New Jersey. In 2004, he obtained a BA from Duke University in Economics and Public Policy. Following his graduation, Eric taught special education, math and social studies for four years with Teach for America (in Houston) and the KIPP Charter Schools (in DC). In 2010, Eric obtained a Master of Public Policy degree from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, focusing on International Policy and Development. During the summer of 2009, Eric studied in Shanghai, China and taught English in Jiangxi Province. While in graduate school, he interned at the U.S. Department of Education and Georgetown’s Center for Child and Human Development. Upon graduating, Eric interned at Population Services International, developing an evaluation and tracking system for PSI’s trainers. Starting in September 2010, he served as a Fellow at the Pew Charitable Trusts, researching social determinants of health and predatory lending issues.