Originally from Ojai, CA, Jovi has spent the past 19 years living and teaching in NY. She earned her PhD in Religious Studies from University of California Santa Barbara with an emphasis on religion in the United States, particularly Native American religions, Judaism, and religion and pop culture. In addition she's been a professional cowboy, mule packer, and gourmet marshmallow maker, and is currently a hand knit designer with over 80 published patterns.