Jónína Kárdal received an M.A. in Educational Psychology (Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology) from the University of Minnesota in 1999 and was hired directly to work as a career and guidance counselor at the University of Iceland Student Counselling Centre. She has actively participated in developing the services, taking on innovative projects, and now project manager of a digital platform called Careers Connections, where the goal is to connect UI students, researchers, and the labor market to enhance and strengthen collaboration beneficial to all.

Jónína is the current president of the Icelandic Educational & Vocational Guidance Association, serving her fourth year and second time as president (2004-2006).

Jónína received the CEHD Alumni Rising award in 2016, acknowledging her leadership in the field of career and guidance counseling in Iceland as well as in Scandinavia and the European Union. Jónína has introduced new methods and practices to strengthen the career development services at her university and implemented training programs for counselors across the region.

Jónína has been active in the University of Minnesota Alumni Chapter in Iceland leading it as president for the last decade. She has served two terms (six years) as a member of the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development Alumni Board and concluded her last three-year term as of June 30, 2024. She has also been a UMN Alumni Association representative on the All-University Honors committee for the for the past three years and finished her term serving in that role on June 30, 2024.