Jian Joyner
School: College of Liberal Arts (Japan Campus), College of Public Health
Degree and Year: BA, psychological studies, 2018; MSW, social work, 2023
Hometown: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Current Job Title: Research assistant
Current Employer: Concert Health
Small island, big dreams. Jian Joyner, CLA ’18, SSW ’23, grew up in Saipan, a 14-mile-long island in the Western Pacific Ocean and capital of the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a U.S. territory. In this tight-knit community where “everybody knows everybody,” Jian’s biracial heritage and upbringing amidst diverse cultures nurtured her appreciation for multiculturalism and inspired her to forge meaningful connections beyond the horizon.
Ticket to Tokyo. A high school presentation by a Temple University representative introduced Jian to Temple University Japan in Tokyo, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in a global metropolis while deepening her connection to her Japanese heritage. Temple Japan offered the ideal blend of academic challenge, cultural immersion and personal growth, all within a supportive campus environment that encouraged her aspirations.
A career, a calling. When Super Typhoon Yutu devastated Saipan in 2018, Jian took on a critical role as a specialized crisis counselor and team leader with the Crisis Counseling Program. She visited homes often without running water or electricity, providing residents with essential resources and emotional support. Later, as prevention coordinator for the Overdose Data to Action program, Jian launched the CNMI’s first opioid overdose prevention campaign and supported hospital operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
