Ericka Johnson

Ericka Johnson serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”). She is a principal advisor to the Secretary, where she assists in developing and implementing policies, goals, and strategies for the agency's four divisions.

Prior to being appointed to this role in November 2023, Johnson served as Deputy Director of the Division of Real Estate at IDFPR, where she managed and led multiple executive-level projects. Johnson spearheaded the creation of the Division of Real Estate's "How to Series," an interactive workshop that tours the state to teach new and diverse candidates how to enter the appraisal profession with the goal of fostering diversity and reducing barriers to licensure.

Johnson also previously served as the Chief of Real Estate Prosecutions at IDFPR, where she led a team of talented attorneys, resulting in a sharp reduction in pending license law violation cases by more than 65%.

Before joining IDFPR in 2018, Johnson was a career litigator with over a decade and a half of experience in the courtroom, representing the People of the State of Illinois at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. 

Johnson earned her Juris Doctor from Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law (2003) and her Bachelor of Arts in Government, with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin (2000), where she was on the trial team. Johnson is a member of the Illinois State Bar (2003) and the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, General Bar (2003). She is also a member of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (”ARELLO”), where she currently serves on the Fair Housing Committee, and is a member of the Association of Appraisal Regulatory Officials (”AARO”).