Jeana completed her graduate research on biological control of Phytophthora blight of pepper at North Carolina State University under the guidance of Dr. Jean Ristaino. A Georgia native, Jeana holds a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from the University of Georgia and a master's degree in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Since completing her graduate research in August 2019, she has held a position as a plant pathologist with the US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs. Jeana now lives in Washington, DC with her quarantine puppy, Mac.