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Pedro Navarrete
Chris Pierce
Nico Sigler

April Wilson

            Oliphant grew up on an organic farm in Versailles, Indiana, where her Grandpa used horse-drawn equipment and sold produce on the front lawn.  At an early age, she learned from her Grandpa about hard work, dedication and putting in an honest day’s work. She attended school at South Ripley Elementary School and graduated from South Ripley Junior-Senior High School in 1998.  In high school, Oliphant was very active in band, choir, and show choir, as well as academic team and French club.

            After high school, Oliphant worked for a year to save money for college.  She spent six months as a laboratory technician, producing beneficial nematodes (a form of pest control for citrus growers).  In the winter season, she worked in a factory in North Vernon, Indiana, manufacturing fuel filler tubes for GM and Harley Davidson engines.

            Oliphant moved to Bloomington in August 1999 to attend Indiana University.  She immediately fell in love with the community.  Oliphant studied audio recording at the Jacobs School of Music, worked on the Electrics and Paint Crews for IU Opera and Ballet Theater, and  operated the sound board for live musicians at the Cellar Lounge.  In December 2003, Erika earned a B.A. in General Studies, with a science concentration, from the School of Continuing Studies. 

            

            

Sheila and Joel Hearth
Cindy Houston
Stephanie and Josh Johnson
Walt Keller

Co-Chairs:  
Lorraine Merriman Farrell 
Beth Hamlin
Treasurer:  Joshua Radicke

            Her summers were primarily spent interning, first as a Legal Advocate at Middle Way House in 2007 and as an intern at Indiana Legal Services, Inc. in 2008.  During her third and final year of law school, she received an externship as a law clerk in the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office, where she found her passion.  While studying for the bar examination in summer following graduation, Oliphant worked as a paralegal for David McCrea, a plaintiff’s attorney in toxic tort cases, at McCrea & McCrea.  When she passed the bar in 2009, she immediately returned to the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office and began working as a deputy prosecuting attorney.

            Oliphant’s hobbies include running, hiking, knitting, reading, and listening to music. She has finished four half marathons, one 10K, and several 5K races.

            In 2006, on a suggestion from a roommate who appreciated her counsel, Oliphant decided to enroll in the Maurer School of Law.  While in law school, Oliphant belonged to the Protective Order Project (where she served consecutive years as Student Director and on the Advisory Board) and the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies (where she served as Executive Symposium Editor).

Campaign Committee

Tomi and Jim Allison
Angela and Herb Caldwell
Rebecca Corey

Kyla Cox Deckard

            After earning her undergraduate degree, Oliphant went on to supervise the Electrics Crew and served as an assistant lighting designer to Michael Schwandt at the IU Opera and Ballet Theater.  She worked calls for IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) Local 618 at the IU Auditorium, working on touring shows such as Les Miserables, David Copperfield, Mamma Mia, and Blast.  Oliphant’s love of music continued to express itself when she played bass in a couple of local alternative rock bands, Slacks and Airtight Garage. She also played bass and toured with Sam Lowry and the Circumstance in 2005, and with Nathaniel Seer in 2007 to 2008.