Briana grew up in Berkeley and earned her BA in Studio Art from Scripps College in Los Angeles, along with her teaching credential and a Master’s in Education. She teaches because she loves working with high school students and finds their creativity and perspective inspiring. She believes art challenges students to stretch their thinking and strengthens skills that support learning across all subjects.

In addition to her work in the classroom, she is a celebrated graphic novelist. Her book ""Raised by Ghosts"" received the American Library Association’s GNCRT Outstanding Young Adult Nonfiction Comic of the Year and the Foreword Indies Editor’s Choice Award for Nonfiction, and won the prestigious Harvey Award for Best Young Adult Graphic Novel. Outside of school, she enjoys drawing, making comics, and sewing.