Tonya is a second-year law student at South Texas College of Law Houston. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing & Rhetoric from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Prior to law school, she owned and operated a retail and service business in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Tonya is a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and an editor for the South Texas Law Review. She is currently researching and writing a law review comment that examines the legal, conservation, and public policy implications that arise from the ongoing exploration of Jewel Cave, a recognized national monument in South Dakota.

Outside of law school, Tonya volunteers her time tutoring high school students in a variety of subjects, including ESL and professional development. After selling her business, she lived in the Dominican Republic, where she practiced kiteboarding and studied Spanish.

‍