Originally from California, she earned her BA in Economics with a minor in Political Science in 2007. She attended graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder, and earned her PhD in 2014. Sheena's dedication to teaching and research were recognized in graduate school by the awarding of the: Reuben Zubrow Fellowship for an unusual commitment to teaching and research, the Leslie Whittington Fellowship for excellence in economics, and the Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award.