Erika Henry

At Johns Hopkins, Erika Henry is a lecturer in the MS in Data Analytics and Policy program where she brings expertise as a data science executive and research leader whose career bridges psychological science and advanced analytics. With over two decades of experience across academia and Fortune 10 companies, Henry applies scientific rigor to solving complex, real-world problems through data.

Henry began her industry career as a data scientist in health care at the National Committee for Quality Assurance (2015–2016), then joined Amazon as a principal scientist (2016–2020), where she led data and experimentation initiatives focused on consumer behavior and product engagement. From 2020 to 2023, she directed Research & Data Science for Amazon Alexa, leading cross-functional teams in analytics, experimentation, and user modeling. Most recently, she served as senior director of data science at Walmart (2023–2025), driving enterprise-wide initiatives that turned complex data into strategic insights across operations, fraud detection, and customer experience.

In addition to her industry work, Henry remains active in the scientific and professional community. She consults with companies developing AI technologies, advising on the integration of behavioral science with data-driven product development, responsible AI practices, and user-centric design. Her academic research has been published in leading journals such as Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, and she has served as a reviewer for journals in cognitive neuroscience and psychophysiology.

She earned her PhD in Psychological Sciences with a specialization in Social Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Missouri in 2011. Her research—supported by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism —focused on the neural and behavioral mechanisms of emotion regulation and substance use. Through this work, she developed expertise in experimental design, statistical modeling, and the analysis of psychophysiological and neuroimaging data—skills that laid the foundation for her transition into data science. Henry’s career reflects a deep commitment to the responsible use of data and the integration of behavioral insights into modern data science and AI applications.