Janis Legendre began doing massage after graduating from Graham College of Bodywork in 1988. She has 20 years of experience working at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Her background is in radiology, and she has also worked in surgery and human resources. While still working at St. Vincent, she began to build a private practice and left St. Vincent in 1994 to pursue her passions of massage and teaching. The IUPUI Massage Program was the product of Janis and IUPUI’s Continuing Education Director, Mary Jane Brown.

The program was the first to be offered in a major university. From a pilot project, the program has grown to be widely respected. Janis is still instrumental in the direction of the program and continues to teach many of the 'hands-on’ segments of the class. Janis is also a licensed esthetician and in the few moments she is not working on school issues, she likes to relax with her supportive husband, J.D. their black cat, Ivan and two terribly spoiled Boston Terriers, Hilo and Hattie.