Janell is originally from a small town in Ohio​ where both sides of her family have lived for the last five generations. She went to The Ohio State University, graduating in 2008 with a BFA specializing in Photography. After taking a long break from art and working 10 years in marketing, she received her MFA in Studio Arts from Purdue University in 2024. Her work focuses on grief, memory, and time. She currently lives with her 8-pound-pup in Boise, Idaho.