LaWanna Shurtliff graduated from Star Valley High School and earned a BS in business and English education from Utah State University. She began her career as an English teacher before transitioning to teaching business and accounting at Ogden High School. Shurtliff held leadership roles within the Ogden Education Association and later the Utah Education Association. Throughout her tenure in the Utah House of Representatives, she focused on passing legislation related to domestic violence, stalking injunctions, and education funding.

LaWanna Shurtliff's political career is marked by a blend of progressive advocacy and principled conservatism, particularly evident in her stance on domestic violence and Medicaid expansion. Her legislative efforts to combat domestic violence and establish stalking injunctions showcase a progressive commitment to public safety, while her opposition to Medicaid expansion highlights a conservative respect for direct democracy. This juxtaposition invites scrutiny into how she balances these seemingly opposing values.