Janah Esplana Balane is a first-generation college graduate who aspires to contribute to the preservation and expansion of Filipino American history through the arts and education.

Janah attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she earned both a B.A in English with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies and her M.A in English Literature. She currently teaches first-year English Rhetoric and Writing to UNLV undergraduate students. Her scholarly scope includes twentieth-century Asian American literature, Filipinx/a/o-American diaspora, post-colonialism, musical theatre, and performance studies.

Janah believes that every story deserves to be told, and these stories are at the root of who we are. She aspires to draw on her expertise in arts, culture, and leadership to further develop scholarship as well as advocate for the AAPI community.