, ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁with ▁a ▁degree ▁in ▁political ▁science ▁and ▁policy ▁studies . ▁E arn est ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁Sid ▁Richard son ▁College ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁campus - wide ▁be er ▁bi ke ▁coordin ator ▁while ▁at ▁R ice ▁University . ▁ ▁Career ▁Im medi ately ▁following ▁college , ▁he ▁worked ▁in ▁the ▁Houston ▁mayor al ▁election , ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁for ▁Lee ▁P . ▁Brown . ▁E arn est ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁con gression al ▁a ide ▁to ▁U . S . ▁con gress man ▁Robert ▁Mar ion ▁Ber ry , ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁after ▁working ▁on ▁Michael ▁Blo om berg ' s ▁first ▁campaign ▁for ▁mayor ▁of ▁New ▁York ▁City . ▁ ▁After ▁working ▁on ▁Capit ol ▁Hill , ▁E arn est ▁worked ▁for ▁the ▁Democratic ▁National ▁Committee , ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁under ▁both ▁Terry ▁Mc A ul iffe ▁and ▁Howard ▁Dean . ▁E arn est ▁was ▁communic ations ▁director ▁on ▁Jim ▁Davis ' ▁campaign ▁for ▁governor ▁of ▁Florida , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁He ▁moved ▁to ▁Iowa , ▁in ▁December ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁national ▁communic ations ▁director ▁for ▁then - I owa ▁governor ▁Tom ▁V ils ack ' s ▁president ial ▁campaign . ▁ ▁He ▁then ▁joined ▁Bar ack ▁Ob ama ' s ▁president ial ▁campaign ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 7