Mildred B. Erickson was born on September 8, 1913 in Hannibal Missouri. She completed an A.A. degree in 1932 at Hannibal La Grange College. She then completed a B.S. degree in 1934 and M.A. degree in 1937, each from Northwestern University. Later in life she would earn a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1968. Early in her career, Erickson served as a high school teacher before joining Michigan State as an assistant instructor in 1958 in the American Thought and Language Department. Erickson rose through the ranks to assistant professor in 1968, associate professor in 1971 and full professor in 1975. She was also a counselor for the University College beginning in 1965 and serving until 1975. She became Assistant Dean of Continuing Education in 1972 and Assistant Dean for Lifelong Education Programs in 1975, her passion in these areas driven by her own pursuit of an advanced degree later in her life. She retired in 1980 and died in 2000.
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