Sister Olson was born in Tremonton, Utah. She served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Toulouse, France. She is married to Paul F. Olson. Before BYU, Sister Olson taught seminary and institute and was dean of students at LDS Business College. She received a PhD in Sociology of the Middle East, a master's degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, and a bachelor's degree in education. Her areas of expertise include Palestinian families, women in the scriptures, early Christian Church, and Near Eastern studies. Some of her areas of research are New Testament, general church doctrine, the life of Christ, and culture and history of the Bible. Sister Olson can read in French and Biblical Hebrew.