Van Ens graduated from the University of San Diego as a non-traditional student with a B.A. in Communication Studies.  She then received her M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in Communication Studies, specializing in Rhetoric. Her master’s thesis analyzed the performance art of Karen Finley.  Van Ens has a 1999 interdisciplinary doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in the areas of Communication Studies (Performance Studies), Anthropology (Folklore) and Radio-Film-Television.  Her dissertation looked at images of large women in Hollywood films.

Van Ens taught at Central Michigan University for two years before joining the faculty at Kutztown University of PA.  She teaches Interpersonal Communication, Gender Communication, Family Communication, Non-Therapeutic Interviewing, Foundations of Speech Communication, and the Introduction to Women’s Studies.

Van Ens served as the director of the KU DiversityFest IV and is currently the co-chair of the KU DiversityFest Speakers Series.  She is a member of the Women’s Studies board and the APSCUF Gender Issues Social Justice Committee, as well as being active on various other campus committees.  Van Ens is also a board member for the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Studies Association and serves on the National Communication Association (NCA) Performance Studies awards committee.

Research interests include personal narrative, gender, film and performance art.

Van Ens is an avid reader, cook and animal lover.