Joyce is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving both her undergraduate and law degrees there. She worked with the Washington, D.C. strategic communications consulting firm Greener and Hook, LLC, and while in law school interned at the Federal Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina under Judge Stephani Humrickhouse.

Joyce completed an externship at the Office of the Public Defender for Orange and Chatham Counties and was a summer associate at Wyrick Robbins Yates and Ponton, a Raleigh law firm. She has closely worked with the Pope Foundation for a number of years, most recently serving as Vice President.

Currently, she is a member of the Ravenscroft School Board of Trustees, Dix Park Conservancy Board of Directors, UNC Lineberger Board of Visitors, Spoleto Study Abroad Board of Directors, and Variety Wholesalers, Inc. Board of Directors.