Ms. Hansen received an Associate of Arts degree from Chaffey Community College, where she was inspired by the motto on its bell tower: Education is a journey, not a destination. She graduated magna cum laude from California State University San Bernardino with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and a minor in English and earned a Special Education, Level II Credential for Mild to Moderate Disabilities.

Ms. Hansen served as a case manager for students in special education and taught Language Arts and Social Studies at Mountain Shadows Middle School prior to transferring to Nuview Bridge Early College High School in 2004, where she taught English I, English II, AVID, Scholar, a memorable semester of Health/Sex Ed, and the Instructional Support Elective. She is very proud of the fact that among Riverside County schools, her freshman English students ranked #1 on the English/Language Arts portion of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress for several consecutive years.

In 2009, Bridge students asked Ms. Hansen to be the advisor of its first Gay-Straight Alliance club (later to become the Genders and Sexualities Alliance). This was a big turning point for campus culture and contributed to the welcoming environment for teen and adult Knights. The GSA participated in the annual Desert AIDS Walk fundraiser in Palm Desert until the COVID-19 epidemic brought it to a halt. Although Ms. Hansen is no longer the advisor of the club, she remains an ally of students and staff who identify as LGBTQ.

Ms. Hansen is currently the NBECHS Site Representative for the Nuview District Teachers' Association. Prior to this elected position, she served as Vice President and Negotiations Chairperson for NDTA. In 2013, she was recognized with the WHO Award from NDTA and the California Teachers’ Association for “outstanding service to the teaching profession”.