Joyce was born in Ohio and received her undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University and her master's degree in biology from the University of Akron. She started her career working for the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves in 1980. She worked as a botanist for the Ohio and Minnesota chapters of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and for TNC’s Midwest regional office. She has been with the commission since 1986 and developed the commission’s stewardship program. In June 2001, she was promoted to branch manager for Nature Preserves and Natural Areas. Joyce is active in promoting awareness of the threat invasive plants pose to our native biodiversity and serves as the president of the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council and the vice president of the Southeast Regional Exotic Pest Plant Council.
