Dr. G. Brooks Earnest (born George^[1] Brooks Earnest)^[2] (October 2, 1902 in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania – September 13, 1992 in West Bloomfield, Michigan,^[3]), was a distinguished American educator, administrator, and the fourth and last president of Fenn College.

Earnest graduated from high school in Altoona, Pennsylvania.^[1] He graduated in 1927 from the Case Institute of Technology with a degree in civil engineering.^[1] Earnest earned his M.S. from Case Institute in 1933.^[1]

In 1930 he joined the faculty of the Case Institute of Technology as an instructor of engineering.^[1] He became a professor of engineering surveying and director of Camp Case in 1948.^[1]

Earnest, a member of the faculty at Case Institute of Technology was nominated for the position of Dean of the School of Engineering at Fenn College at a joint meeting of the board executive and personnel committees held on September 7, 1950.^[4] Earnest received official approval of this on December 4, 1950 by the Fenn College board of trustees.^[4] The appointment was effective on February 1, 1951.^[4]

At a board meeting on January 28, 1952 it was recommended through a report submitted that Earnest be appointed the acting president of Fenn College.^[4] The board unanimously approved it.^[4] He was named the permanent president on September 22, 1952.^[4] He served as the President of Fenn College until August 31, 1965 when Fenn College's assets were given to the State of Ohio to create Cleveland State University.^[4]

The American Society of Civil Engineers, Cleveland section established the G. Brooks Earnest Technical Lecture Award in "appreciation of the life-long services of G. Brooks Earnest."^[5]

Earnest was born to John Harry Earnest and Mary Catharine Earnest (née Showers).^[6] He was married to Mary Alice Earnest (née McKeighan) on February 8, 1928.^[1][7] They had two sons, Samuel Allen of Murrysville, Pennsylvania. and David Brooks of West Bloomfield, Michigan.^[1]