Shirley Tilghman

Shirley Tilghman

Molecular Biologist; Pres., Princeton University

Shirley Tilghman is the nineteenth president of Princeton University, and is the first woman to hold the position. Tilghman served on the Princeton faculty for fifteen years before being named President. A native of Canada, Tilghman was educated at Queen's University and Temple University. She is a renowned molecular biologist, known particularly for her pioneering research in mammalian developmental genetics. She served as a member of the National Research Council's committee that set the blueprint for the U.S. effort in the Human Genome Project and was one of the founding members of the National Advisory Council of the Human Genome Project Initiative for the National Institutes of Health.

In 2002, Tilghman was one of five winners of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science.  In the following year, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Developmental Biology, and in 2007, she was awarded the Genetics Society of America Medal for outstanding contributions to her field.  Tilghman is a member of the American Philosophical Society, the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the Royal Society of London. She chairs the Association of American Universities and serves as a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and as a director of Google Inc.

2mins
Tilghman sees equal opportunity in education as a major issue. There is clearly a major gap between rich and poor in the US, and universities that care about equal opportunity […]
1mins
As an immigrant, Tilghman is a supporter of welcoming students to the U.S. to study, and giving them the opportunity to stay and contribute to the well being and economy […]
Tilghman says she would like to see a candidate who is prepared to think about how we go about political discourse. One who recognizes or polarization of issues and our […]
1mins
Tilghman sees race as a major social issue. She believes that we have never truly overcome the burden of slavery. She points out African Americans make up an underclass in […]
1mins
Tilghman discusses our need for technology to give us alternatives to fossil fuels. This all boils down to climate change which will effect the world indefinitely.
Tilghman is worried about the fact that the way we define ourselves, in terms of race and ethnicity, is driving conflict in the world, especially terrorism.
Tilghman says that Africa is being completely left out of globalization plans and it is troubling to her how that will play out in the end.
Tilghman feels the measure of a good life is what one can achieve with their God given talents, and how they have treated others.
1mins
Tilghman is inspired by big ideas and the execution of them. She knows that big ideas come with obstacles, and likes to encounter people who see beyond the small details […]
1mins
Tilghman feels as though financing research in science, which used to be a social contract, is declining among universities. She links economic vitality with research and development, and sees the […]
3mins
Tilghman is concerned that many students studying science are becoming discouraged over the amount of time and the competitive nature of becoming a scientist. She is also worried about the […]
2mins
Tilghman is excited about the future of cancer research as we are close to being able to identify specific genes linked with specific types of cancer. This could lead to […]
3mins
Tilghman sees the next scientific frontier as focusing on cancer research and being able to find disease specific treatments.
2mins
Tilghman’s father encouraged her to follow her dream and her interest in math and science. She also thinks it is of great importance for people and universities to encourage all […]
Tilghman’s perspective on America involves the difference between group rights versus individual rights. She feels as though Canada allows group rights to trump individual rights, the opposite of America.
Tilghman says that the questions we should all be asking ourselves are, “How can we make a difference?…How can we lead lives that matter? How can we leave the world […]
1mins
Tilghman says that collectively we should be talking, globally, to improve understanding, to cooperate and collaborate to find common ground. Individually we should be educating ourselves about the issues to […]
1mins
Tilghman considers herself an optimist, but does feel globally optimistic. She doesn’t feel that the right people are stepping up to leadership, and can’t see solutions to major issues because […]
3mins
Tilghman says that there are many forces that have shaped humanity such as evolution, natural selection, technology, the Internet, and our ability to create a more comfortable environment. She feels […]
1mins
Tilghman says that one philosopher who she feels “gets it” is a fellow faculty member names Kwame Anthony Appiah. He has written about the nature of ethnic, national, and religious […]