After earning her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, Tonya has focused her career on child welfare. She has more than 20 years of experience with the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, holding the positions of Director of Special Investigations and Deputy Commissioner of Child Welfare, among others.
Tonya has been a member of the Mississippi Task Force for Children's Justice, Governor Phil Bryant's appointee to Children's Justice Act Task Force in 2017, and a member of the Interdisciplinary Team Coordinator for the Office of the State Public Defender. She joined the Mississippi State Department of Health in 2025.
