Sister Jan, a native of Goodland, Kansas, entered the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, in 1971. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. She also received a graduate certificate in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Sister Jan has served as President of the congregation since 2016. She also served in this capacity from 2004 to 2012. From 2013 to 2016, she was the U.S. Liaison for Global Sisters Report. Prior to being elected in 2004, she was a staff attorney with Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, and was associated with Holy Family Catholic Worker House in Kansas City.