Erika Bethmann Email & Phone Number

Born to a first-generation, combat-medic father, and mother with a lifelong career in health care, I have spent my career thus far in service of the American public. Alongside a strong education in international affairs and trade from The George Washington University, I honed my interpersonal skills as a labor management professional, negotiating the impact and implementation of USAID and State Department policy on Foreign Service Officer constituents of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). After transitioning to Policy Analyst with AFSA's Advocacy team, I successfully helped advocate for Congress to reject massive proposed cuts to the international affairs budget and instead to increase FSO positions overseas and the funding to support a field-forward Foreign Service.Having gained an appreciation for the impact that domestic policy has on America's international affairs agencies, I joined to the federal government workforce as an International Economist with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). As such, I've contributed to innovative economic research to educate and inform U.S. trade policy in the areas of Trade in Value Added, global value chains, non-tariff measures, and computable general equilibrium modelling. I've been privileged to work in teams with dedicated public servants from across the U.S. government and counterparts within North American and APEC partner countries. Most recently, I've also had the honor of leading project teams within the USITC to develop detailed and comprehensive statutory reports, in addition to serving as a proud member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Council. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, cooking, collaborating and learning from friends and peers in my local chapter of SURJ--Showing Up for Racial Justice.