“ Tara has been the biggest supporter of me as a student at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. She is the most hard working, committed and devoted teacher that I have ever had. Everyone in the Architecture & Design Department loves her for it. ”
~ Ruth Asawa School of the Arts A+D Student
Tara Siegel
Throughout a career that has spanned architectural practice, advocacy, non-profit financing, and education, Tara Siegel has worked to transform the built environment in the service of equity, sustainability, health, and beauty.
Her diverse professional experience has given her the opportunity to collaborate on projects in imaginative ways, creating new synergies between community members, architects, developers, financial sponsors, and city agencies. She has a B.A. in Architectural Studies from the University of Washington, and a Master of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. After her early career focused on the design of affordable housing and childcare facilities, Tara was awarded the Rose Architectural Fellowship, which she completed at the Pratt Center for Community Development in Brooklyn, New York, continuing to work on a range of community development projects. Tara co-founded and led the New Housing New York Design Competition and was Chair of Steering Committee for the execution of the Via Verde built project and was a contributing author to The Legacy Project publication.
She is currently Director of the Architecture & Design Department at Ruth Asawa School of The Arts in San Francisco, using design education to inspire the next generation of leaders.
“ Tara is the Director of the RASOTA Architecture and Design program. In the 5 years she has been there, Tara has been transformative to the program and to students' lives. In addition to a challenging, creative and inspirational curriculum that seamlessly spans 9th-12th grade, she has inspired students to find their passion and tap into their most wild creative side. All this is in an art department designed to close the equity gap that requires no former instruction or experience in A+D. All applicants need is to possess is a desire to learn and an affinity for drawing. Tara is, simply put, a dedicated and talented art educator who has touched many lives. ”
~ Ruth Asawa School of the Arts Parent Alum