Joan grew up in Provo, Utah, and attended Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. She is a mother of six children. Joan has served in many positions in her church, providing both youth and adult leadership. She has worked to establish a community based drug task force to reduce drug activity in her community. She works with special needs and pre-school aged children at the Manti Elementary School. She has always had an interest in the peoples of Africa. Her first service trip to Kenya was in 2004. She has since returned multiple times to continue her service.