A first-generation immigrant, Hanna was born in Korea who came to the United States on her own, in pursuit of an environment with open opportunities for women. When she first arrived in the United States, she had very little English-speaking ability, and was not aware of the college admission process, and spend the first two years honing her English-speaking ability and learning how to access the American educational system. 

Hanna attended the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with numerous scholarships and honors while majoring in Molecular Cell and Development Biology. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, she moved to Boston, where she received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She hopes to combine her PhD training and legal education, in hopes of bringing innovative treatment to the bedside and to lessen the suffering of patients from invasive medical procedures- all while bringing pro bono medical care to developing countries. Hanna is currently pursuing her JD at Berkeley Law.