ABOUT TARA

I am a lifelong resident of Reno, Nevada and the first person in my family to earn a college degree. I received my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

My passion is to humanize and prioritize the needs of underserved communities. I work in the non-profit sector as an outdoor science advocate to increase the representation and retention of diverse students in STEM. I have also spent five years pursuing a doctoral degree in Science & Engineering Education, focusing on justice-centered learning of social and political issues in STEM disciplines.

My husband, Adam, and I own a small home in Old Northwest, where we are proud to raise our son, Ziggy. We are so grateful for our incredible community of neighbors. I am an active community volunteer with local non-profits and mutual aid groups, an election poll worker, and a founding board member for Desert Peach Montessori, a small school serving diverse families nestled in the heart of Old Northwest. I serve on the Recreation and Parks Commission with the City of Reno and currently work for a local non-profit, Headwaters Science Institute, that provides science outreach education to learners across Reno, Truckee, Tahoe, and the East Bay.

I have always been drawn to community advocacy and engagement. In 2022, I applied to fill Neoma Jardon's vacant Ward 5 seat. Although I received overwhelming positive feedback and public recognition, I was not chosen for the position. While a humbling experience, I was simultaneously preparing to welcome my first child. As a first-time parent, as many can relate, there is so much pressure to plan for the now, such as creating a birth plan, getting a nursery together, and decoding how many newborn onesies you will need. In the midst of prepping for my son, I wanted to plan for what truly matters: the future. My husband and I rustled with many of the unknowns of the future, like who we imagined our child to be, what foundation and systems of support we needed to establish as parents, how to make the best educational choices to cultivate curiosity and liberate our tiny human's potential, and what kind of community we wanted to raise our son in.

With first-hand experience and knowledge of the needs of our most vulnerable populations, I strive for inclusive excellence through compassion, building trust, and pursuing genuine connections and meaningful conversations with people from all walks of life. I want to ensure that the people I serve in public office feel safe, supported, and welcome in their community.