With a medical career in mind, Ehrikka earned her bachelor’s in biomedical sciences before taking a teaching position close to home—a job that uncovered her passion for educating others and ultimately led to her master’s and doctoral degrees in education. In her successful 22-year career in public education, she was a special education teacher, an assistant principal, a principal and a director of special education. She currently serves as the director of human resources and operations for CASA of Travis County, a child advocacy program.
Ivan has also enjoyed educating and serving the public in his 30-year career with the State of Texas. Beyond public education, the couple shares a passion for Texas A&M, their family farm and their beloved miniature donkeys. Working with the Texas A&M Foundation’s team, they combined their favorite things in one meaningful and convenient gift.
“Knowing that Ivan and I have no siblings and there’s no one else after we’re gone, we considered how we could maintain the legacy of education our families instilled in us,” Ehrikka explained. The Foundation’s real estate team presented the perfect solution: a retained life estate gift. “With the retained life estate, we can enjoy the land we love for our lifetime, receive a charitable tax deduction, and then use it to help future Aggies.”
