Esperanza Tilghman is proud to be a "public school kid," born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in a community college program leading to admission to the University of California at Berkeley, from where she received an undergraduate degree in Sociology in 1997.

One of her most memorable undergraduate professors was Barbara Christian, a pioneer in education who became co-editor (with Harvard's Henry Louis Gates) of Norton's very first Anthology of African-American Literature. One of her classes, History of the Black Intellectual, further inspired Ms. Tilghman's intellectual growth and exploration.

Ms. Tilghman received a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 2002, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2005. She joined the Department as a Foreign Service Officer in September 2006, and is preparing for her first post as a Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan.

"Education is a core value in my family, key to making one's way in the world," says Ms. Tilghman. "Early in this country's history, the education of black slaves was not tolerated, and was frequently punished with violence. This denial of access to education continued well into the 20th century, culminating in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. Historically, our education was made possible with a strong network of black educators. One pioneer for the education of blacks in the U.S. is Anna Julia Cooper, a prominent scholar, activist, and educator in African-American history. There are many pioneers like Ms. Cooper in my own family, as elementary school teachers, college professors and school administrators. A very close cousin will become a teacher in San Francisco, and she will bring with her a tradition that will enrich her student's lives."

posted 27-Feb-2007