The Fayetteville Observer's 40 Under 40 Class of 2023: Meet Erica Dunham
Erica Dunham, 35, is an assistant district attorney at the Scotland County District Attorney's Office.
She was nominated for 40 Under 40 because "in addition to working as a prosecutor and being a dedicated wife and mother, she also volunteers at the Hoke Reading Literacy Council every Saturday," a nominator writes. "In that capacity, she was awarded the HRLC Volunteer of the Year Award 2022. As a volunteer, she tutors school-age children with an aim to improve the overall literacy rates in Hoke County. Additionally, she is a regular social media contributor for the HRLC Facebook page. In that capacity, she researches relevant educational topics and creates meaningful and informative posts."
Here's what else you should know about this member of The Fayetteville Observer's 40 Under 40 Class of 2023.
Who are your immediate family members?
My immediate family includes my husband and two daughters, ages 14 and 3.
What does your job entail?
My job involves the prosecution of a variety of criminal cases ranging from property and financial crimes to violent assaults and shootings in Superior Court.
Where did you receive your education?
Terry Sanford High School, diploma; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts in political science and history; Wake Forest School of Law, Juris Doctor.
What community and professional groups are you affiliated with?
North Carolina Bar Association; 21st Judicial District Bar Association; Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, chair of the Bylaws Committee
How do you volunteer your time in the community?
I truly believe that access to quality education and resources is a means through which one can reach his or her fullest potential. I was blessed with several mentors throughout my life who instilled in me the importance of giving back to my community. I am proud to volunteer at the Hoke Reading Literacy Council. The HRLC not only offers a Saturday Technology Lab, which offers introductory computer classes to senior citizens but also serves the dual purpose of tutoring elementary and middle school students. As a tutor, I work with the students to improve their overall literacy, but also to prepare for the benchmark and end-of-grade testing.
What is one thing you wish people knew or understood better about your profession?
Some people assume that the main goal of a prosecutor is to get convictions by any means necessary. However, in the words of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, "My job as a prosecutor is to do justice. And justice is served when a guilty man is convicted and an innocent man is not."
What's the best advice you've ever received and/or the worst advice you've ever followed?
The best advice that I have ever received came from several different people after I became a mother: "Not only is it OK, it is necessary to partake in self-care. It doesn't mean me first, but rather me too."
If you weren't in your current profession, what would you be?
If I weren't a lawyer, I would be a writer.
What are five things (not people or pets) you can't live without?
1. Black coffee 2. Technology 3. Marvel movies/shows 4. Music 5. Great literature
What's something you do outside of work to enrich yourself?
Reading or listening to Audible. I love reading historical works, fantasy and memoirs.
Some responses may have been edited for style and grammar.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 40 Under 40: Erica Dunham, Scotland County District Attorney's Office
