From an early age Numa was fascinated with plants and insects. She claims that this is due in part because most of her growing life was spent aboard star bases and vessels which had little plant life to be seen except in the Arboretum's. Of course it was in the Arboretum's that she spent most of her time. It was also in the Arboretum that she met her first love, Torel Jenkins, a resident botanist. Their romance would be short lived. While on an exploratory mission to an uncharted world to gather scientific data, Torel was killed. Numa was heartbroken and vowed that she would continue in his footsteps. This is the true reason that she chose science over engineering even though she may never voice this aloud.

Shortly after Torel's death, Numa applied to Star Fleet Academy and was accepted. She excelled at her studies in Exobiology with a major focus on Botony and Entamology. She eventually graduated at the top of her class. However, her studies were not limited to Botony and Entamology alone. She also received varying minor degrees in horticulture and geology/mineralogy.

Numa's first assignment was on board the USS Galaxy as a Science Officer. She soon proved herself a competent field scientist, earning a promotion to Lieutenant junior grade.

Numa is very sociable but somewhat quiet. Most people mistake her silence for shyness, however Numa is anything but shy.