She graduated from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. with a Bachelor's Degree and earned a Master's degree in Documentary film and video from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
She is a documentary film producer in Durham, North Carolina and the founder of Thornapple Films, an independent production company there.
Daughter of Marie Haviland and Jim James of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Daughter-in-law of Patricia La Noue and George La Noue of Baltimore, Maryland.