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 a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies. She is currently pursuing her Master’s of Arts in English Literature at UNLV, where she teaches English composition to undergraduate students. Her scholarly focus is on twentieth-century Asian American literature, Filipinx/a/o-American experiences, and performance studies.

Janah believes that every story deserves to be told, and these stories are at the root of who we are. She hopes to hone her knowledge of arts, culture, leadership, and scholarship in non-profit organizations.