Born in Woodward, Oklahoma and raised within a family committed to agriculture, ranching and the petroleum industry, Dana is a fifth generation Oklahoman and has deep roots in Oklahoma. After attending Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma where she received the Best All-Around Freshman Athlete award, she attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in the top ten percent of her class with a bachelor’s degree in geology. After practicing as a geologist for ten years, she obtained her law degree cum laude while working and attending night school at Oklahoma City University.

While an administrative law judge at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for almost six years, she was named co-employee of the year for 1997 and received the Commissioners’ Public Servant Award in 2001. At the end of 2001, Dana left her position as an administrative law judge and began working as a consulting geologist in order to run for the statewide office of Corporation Commissioner. As a first time candidate, she garnered 41 percent of the primary vote and raised over $400,000.

In 2003, Dana returned to private law practice with an emphasis in oil and gas title, transactional and regulatory work. Dana currently serves on the Board of Farmers Royalty Company. She is also a personal fitness trainer and is active in the Oklahoma Bar Association, Edmond Chamber of Commerce and American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Dana previously served as a trustee and is currently a care chaplain for the Church of the Servant United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.