Joy is the Dean of Far Eastern University- Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management. She is a graduate of PhD in Philippine Studies and MA in Art Studies at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and BS Tourism at La Consolacion College Manila. Before joining the academe, she worked at the Department of Tourism-Airport Reception Unit and Tourist Information Center. She is an accreditor of PACUCOA (Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation) and Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (ALCUCOA) for the tourism and HRM programs. She is a Founding officer, Past President, and currently the adviser of the Union of Filipino Tourism Educators, a professional organization for tourism and hospitality educators. Dr. Era has presented and published research locally and internationally.

Her research interests are on tourism, sustainability, culture, governance, and education.