Tara Earnest began her academic career with a civil engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh. After several years as an
Engineer-in-Training, she pursued her Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan. During graduate school, she was a staff member for the college's journal Dimensions. She completed coursework, studio projects, and travel in and around Copenhagen, Denmark.

Tara has been involved in the design and construction of a variety of project types including multi-family housing, religious, and institutional facilities, urban planning studies, and space programming / facilities planning.

Professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects and Pittsburgh Young Professionals. Tara is currently pursuing architectural licensure and has passed a number of the Architecture Registration Examinations.