Gwen Tilghman received her B.A. from Miles College and her M.A. in Reading from Atlanta University. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Samford University. She worked at Miles and Bessemer Technical College before joining the Birmingham Board. She was named Principal of Hemphill Elementary in 1996. In 2004, she was named “Principal of the Year” by the Birmingham Rotary Club.

Dr. Tilghman  has served as President of the Birmingham Principals’Association. She  was selected as Outstanding Elementary School Principal by the Birmingham PTA Council in 1998-1999 and Hemphill received the United States Department of Education’s National Title I Distinguished School Award in 2001. Dr.Tilghman is on the Usher Board and works with the Women’s Ministry of Trinity Baptist Church. She is married to Ralph and has one son LeNard.