Dr. Erica Miller was born on November 10, 1933, in Tshernovitz, Romania. At seven years old, Erica and her family were among thousands of Jews forced into cattle cars and sent to the Mogilev ghetto in Ukraine. There, they endured four years of deprivation, cut off from education and basic rights. After the camp’s liberation by Soviet forces, Erica began her schooling at age 11, entering fifth grade without any prior formal education. Despite this late start, she quickly became a top student in reading, writing, and mathematics, much to the surprise of her teachers and peers.

‍

In 1949, Erica’s family immigrated to Israel, where she balanced night school with work during the day, ultimately earning a high school diploma, a rare feat at the time. Determined to serve her new country, Erica joined the Israeli Air Force from 1954 to 1956, one of few women at that time to take on such a role. Following her service, she worked for the Israeli Government Tourist Information Office in Tel Aviv, before moving to Los Angeles, California. There, she studied Hebrew education, met her future husband, Jerry Miller, and together they raised two children.

‍

In 1970, Erica returned to school, earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She and her husband opened a successful chain of mental health clinics across Southern California and ran a non-profit supporting individuals struggling with substance abuse and domestic violence. Today, Erica oversees her family’s real estate business in Austin, Texas, and shares her experiences through public speaking and writing.