Dr. Tiffany Gholson

"I often get into trouble." Civil Rights Activist John Lewis said "Never ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble," and that I have done! I have spent over 30 years creating safe spaces where children, families, and communities can heal, grow, and thrive—especially in places where hope seems hardest to find.

My leadership spans education, social services, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems, where I have built trauma-informed and culturally responsive programs that strengthen families and promote positive youth development. I thought it was time to tell my story so here it is. My memoir is titled: Learning the Heart Work: Building Community through Loving and Leading.

A proud alumna of the University of Illinois, I hold three master's degrees—in Social Work, Educational Administration, and School Superintendency—and earned my PhD in Educational Policy Studies. My guiding philosophy is simple yet powerful: create safe spaces, listen with your whole heart, and help people discover the strength they already carry inside—by bridging the gap between bureaucracy and genuine compassion and getting into good trouble--when necessary! When I am not writing, I host professional development courses and workshops as well as support children who have been paralyzed due to gun violence through my non-profit, Breaking Barriers International. In my free time, I love reading, cats, dancing, oceans, and collecting art depicting Black and Brown children! I love reading, cats, dancing, and collecting art depicting Black and Brown children.