How to protect my e mail account from intrusion by a likely "phisher".?

Received an email from someone named Kathy Lugoli who asked if she could talk to me about something on the phone. As the e mail referenced a group (the Citizens Advisory Committee) of which I am a member I thought it was from someone who was intererested in what the group deals with, which is transportation related issues. So I replied, sending my phone number. Now I think it was a case of phishing and feel I must do something to protect my e mail from being used/compromised by unauthorized users. How can I do that/what steps should I take to protect my account from this "Kathy Lugoli"???