Erika Gilbert: From Determined Student to Dynamic Leader at Duke
August 21, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
DURHAM – For Erika Gilbert, returning to college wasn’t just a personal goal, it was a promise. A full-time healthcare leader at one of the nation’s top medical institutions, a graduate student pursuing her MBA, and a dedicated mother, Gilbert has spent her adult life balancing responsibility with ambition.
Her academic path didn’t unfold in a straight line, but rather through intentional pauses and powerful restarts with each decision rooted in family, faith, and the belief that it’s never too late to grow. After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Mount Olive (UMO), Gilbert continued to graduate school, not for a title or a raise, but to lead by example.
Gilbert, who resides in Durham, NC, had tried returning to school several times after giving birth to her son in 1998. “I would start, then stop because life would get hard,” she recalled. “Trying to work full-time, be a single mother, and go to school was just too much.” Eventually, she made a deliberate choice to focus on raising her son. “I wanted to be an involved parent and always be present for him.”
When her son prepared to head off to college, Gilbert made him a promise: “I told him if I expected him to graduate, I was going to do it too so he could see me walk across that stage.”
Now she’s not only kept that promise she has far exceeded it. As a PRMO Manager at Duke University Health System, Gilbert leads five departments, including one that operates 24/7. She has five supervisors and over 50 employees under her direction. It’s a demanding role that she fought hard to attain. “Before getting my degree, I was a supervisor for over ten years,” she said. “I had the skills and the support of people who believed in me. However, not having a degree was holding me back from any promotion.”
Her education at UMO finally gave her the leverage she needed to move forward. “I knew I could do more, and now I had the credentials to prove it.” The balance between executive-level responsibilities and graduate-level coursework is no small feat. Gilbert is strategic about her time dedicating Wednesday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays solely to school. “Most days I’m mentally exhausted after work, so I’ve learned what works for me. This schedule keeps me on track.”
Though she originally planned to stop at her bachelor’s, it was a UMO staff member who inspired her to continue. “Leigh Shaffer is the reason I decided to pursue my MBA. Her support during my undergraduate years meant the world to me, and I knew I could do two more years.”
Erika’s story is one of commitment – to her family, to her team, and to herself. She is especially driven by the opportunity to help others achieve success. “My primary goal is to help people become great leaders. I’ve helped many people grow into leadership roles, and that’s what gives me the most satisfaction.”
She also credits her personal support system including her son, cousin, mother, and understanding friends for lifting her along the way. “They were okay when I had to miss events for schoolwork. Their belief in me made a difference.”
Known as a nurturing, inquisitive leader, Gilbert takes pride in being the kind of professional who shows up on Zoom calls, in the workplace, and in the lives of others. “I ask questions, I seek accuracy, and I want to lead by example,” she said. Looking ahead, Gilbert envisions herself in a director or associate vice president role within the next five to ten years. “I have the experience, and now I’ll have the education to match.”
But perhaps her greatest motivation lies in the generations coming behind her. “I want to be a living example of what perseverance looks like,” she said. “Giving up was never an option, no matter how long it took.”
For Erika Gilbert, earning her MBA isn’t just about a title, it is about becoming the kind of leader who elevates everyone around her. “Everything is within reach,” she said, “when you find your reason and keep pushing.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
