A native of Goshen in Indiana, she is the third of four daughters born to Dr. Jeffrey Bolduan, and to Nadine Bolduan, a nurse. She was educated at Goshen High School, a public high school in her home city, followed by George Washington University, from which she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 2005, with a bachelor's degree in journalism. During her time at the university, she walked on to the women's volleyball team and acted with the student theatre organization.