A 2005 graduate of Fordham College at Rose Hill, Erika Newell, transferred to Fordham for her sophomore year, where she rewrote the women's record book in each of her three years at Rose Hill
 
Newell's top season was her senior year where she became Fordham's first-ever multi-event winner at the Atlantic 10 championships, winning the 100 and 200 backstroke, setting an Atlantic 10 record in the 100 backstroke. She set four individual school records and two relay records as a senior.
 
Newell capped her senior year by being named recipient of the 2005 Hobbes Family Award as the school's outstanding female athlete.
 
In her first year at Rose Hill, Newell earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 100 backstroke and then earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 50 freestyle as a junior.
 
Newell graduated with a total of nine school records, the most by any Fordham swimmer, and she still holds the 100 back record.