 She obtained a degree in architecture from the National University of La Plata's Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning in 1981 and a Ph.D in history from the University of Buenos Aires in 1997.Ballent is the author of over 30 book chapters and four books.Ballent began her career as a technical secretary at the from 1989 to 1990, cooperating with Martha Levisman in preparing an exhibit on Le Corbusier for his 60th birthday.