Born in Woodward, Oklahoma, Dana is a fifth generation Oklahoman deeply committed to her home state. After attending Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she received the Best All-Around Freshman Athlete award, she attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) 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. On November 4, 2008, Dana was elected to the statewide office of Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner.

Dana's prior experience includes working for almost six years as an administrative law judge at the Commission, where she was named co-employee of the year for 1997 and received the Commissioners' Public Servant Award in 2001. She has more than 20 years experience in the petroleum industry including owning and operating her own private law practice specializing in oil and gas title, regulatory practice and transactional work and working as a geologist in the Oklahoma petroleum industry.

Dana is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) where she serves on the Energy Resources and the Environment Committee. She is a member of the OSU Water Research Advisory Board, the Oklahoma Bar Association, American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Oklahoma City Geological Society. Dana is also a member of Energy Advocates and in March 2007 was recognized as an outstanding woman in energy. Dana previously served as a trustee and is currently a care chaplain for the Church of the Servant United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. Prior to joining the Commission, she was a member of the board of directors for Farmers Royalty Company and is a member of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. She is also a part-time personal fitness trainer. Dana lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, but continues to be actively involved with her family's farm and ranch in Ellis County, Oklahoma.