Sweet Briar College Magazine - Fall 2018
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
ALUMNAE PROFILE<br />
Teresa Pike Tomlinson ’87:<br />
Charting a Fierce Legacy<br />
sbc.edu<br />
One of the leaders in the Saving <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong> movement, Teresa<br />
Pike Tomlinson ’87 became chairwoman of the <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Board of Directors in 2015 and just completed her three-year<br />
term. The 69th mayor of Columbus, Ga., she has been named<br />
among the “100 Most Influential Georgians” for the last six consecutive<br />
years. We’re grateful to Mayor Tomlinson for all of her<br />
hard work on behalf of the <strong>College</strong> and recently asked her to tell us<br />
a little bit about her <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong> story.<br />
How did you find out about <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong>?<br />
A postcard in the mail. It was the most beautiful picture I<br />
had ever seen and on the back it said something to the effect<br />
of: Where we create women leaders. I didn’t even know there<br />
was such a place. Needless to say, there was only one college<br />
for me after that.<br />
What was your major and what did you plan to do when<br />
you graduated? Did you always intend a career in politics?<br />
I double-majored in government and economics and<br />
obtained a certificate in business management. I never had<br />
any intention of going into politics until I decided to run for<br />
mayor of Columbus, Ga., in 2010. I wanted to be a lawyer,<br />
and I loved practicing law.<br />
How did your SBC experience prepare you for your career?<br />
My <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong> education prepared me for all that I wanted<br />
to do in life. It taught me to think and to love knowledge.<br />
What is your favorite memory about your college days?<br />
The campus, the women, the professors and the support and<br />
encouragement to do big things.<br />
Who was your favorite professor?<br />
Not fair! There are too many to list. Probably Tom Gilpatrick<br />
(government) or Chris Pikrallidas (economics).<br />
What was it about your experience that led you to be such<br />
an active voice for Saving <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong> and your tenure on<br />
the Board of Directors?<br />
<strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Briar</strong> offered a type of education that is particularly<br />
relevant for today’s world and today’s women. We need <strong>Sweet</strong><br />
<strong>Briar</strong> now more than ever. I happened to have the skill and<br />
26
Change language