Joanna Galaris grew up in eight different countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. She studied anthropology and African studies at the University of Florida and received her master's degree in development practice from Emory University. During her studies, she focused on global health and gender-based violence. As an undergraduate, Joanna worked on intersectional social justice and health projects in Gainesville, Florida and Gisenyi, Rwanda. In graduate school, she became involved with global health research on gender-based violence in Vietnam. Joanna went on to lead an interdisciplinary team in an anti-violence program design project with Vietnam’s Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population. Prior to joining GHC, Joanna worked on Rise Up Georgia's Mental illness is Not A Crime Campaign.