Joanna began her studies in the University of Limerick, with a Diploma in Community Development specialising in Money Advice. She spent many years working in disadvantaged areas and schools and with disadvantaged higher education students. She completed a Masters in Partnership studies in 2008 with a focus on Access to Higher Education.   She began her PhD in 2010.

Her research interests include: Knowledge Economy, Employability, Critical International Political Economy, Access to Higher Education, Irish Education System, Neoliberal Ideology, Global Political Economy, Political Philosophy.