 She grew up in Andover, MA, and attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she earned a bachelor's degree.She was a member of the Upsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta.Powers is the granddaughter of David Powers (1912–1998) who served as Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy and later served as Curator of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum from 1964 until his retirement in May 1994.