Temnit Afework was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems Science and Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree, Administration of Justice: Judicial Administration from Salve Regina University in 1997, Magna Cum Laude and a J.D. degree from the George Washington University law school in 2002. Ms. Afework is admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Bar.

Ms. Afework has worked under contract with the Social Security Administration as part of a technical team responsible for upgrading the government's networks. Prior to law school, Ms. Afework worked for the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons in a nationwide computer network training for government computer system engineers and assisted in the implementation of firewalls for secure access to government networks. Ms. Afework also worked as a law clerk for the District of Columbia Courts.

Ms. Afework's patent prosecution experience emphasizes electrical equipments, computer hardware and software, internet applications and business methods.

Temnit Afework is a member of numerous professional organizations, including: the American Bar Association; the American Intellectual Property Law Association; the District of Columbia Bar Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.