Joanna was raised in Federal Way, attending public schools where she participated in choir, drama, athletics, and honors courses, and was a student at British Dancing Academy in Federal Way and Tacoma Musical Theater. Joanna continued dancing and participating in drama into college, and received her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Humanities from Western Washington University. She later attended law school at the University of Idaho, receiving dual emphases in Native American Law and Natural Resources & Environmental Law, and has focused her practice on public service with the state and service to municipalities. Fortunate to have a family who supported and encouraged participation in and exposure to the arts, Joanna is passionate about the arts in general and especially access to the arts for children regardless of family income. She lives in Federal Way with her husband, two young children, and two cats, and loves to garden, cook, and have dance parties in the living room with her kids.