Born in Fairfield, Illinois, Pearce received her bachelor's degree in biological science from Indiana University Bloomington in 1973.

She then received her master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1984.

In 1989, Pearce completed the Executive Program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

[1] Pearce lived in Anchorage, Alaska and was in the banking and real estate business.

From 2006 to 2010, Pearce served as the administrator of the Office of the Federal Coordinator, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects overseeing the construction of the proposed Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.