A Tennessee native, Tara earned a Bachelor's from Rhodes College, majoring in Biology and pursuing coursework in International Studies and Economics. During college, Tara served as Student Trustee to the BACCHUS Network, the largest active student organization in higher education. While earning a Master’s of Science in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology and a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Tara coordinated courses for international conservation practitioners as an intern with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, consulted for Defenders of Wildlife and the Golden Lion Tamarin Association, and designed and taught an undergraduate course on an integrated understanding of environmental sustainability. Prior to joining GHC, Tara led Tennessee’s Medicaid implementation of the federal program promoting the meaningful use of electronic health records. In her free time, you can find Tara hiking, reading, and dancing.