Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Yana earned master's and doctorate degrees in sociology from Moscow Lomonosov State University. She worked for the public library in San Angelo, Texas, before moving to Missouri in 2014. Prior to joining SHSMO in September 2016, Yana was the digital projects specialist at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Her previous experiences have allowed her to hone her skills as a reference librarian and a reference services coordinator.