Description: Tilghman was born and grew up in Toronto, Canada. She feels that Canada's policies of putting the group before the individual has definitely influenced her. She also mentions that her father made a major impact on her life by supporting women's rights and encouraging her interest in math and science.

Transcript: Shirley Tilghman

Question: Where are you from and how has that shaped you?

Transcript: I was born in Toronto, Canada. I think the biggest difference that I see between Canada and the United States where I currently live is the fundamental difference of whether the group rights are trumped by the individual, or whether the individual’s rights are trumped by the group. I think in Canada it is the former. And I think that has very much influenced who I am as a person.

Question: Who was your greatest influence when you were young?

Transcript: I think my father influenced me more than any other person when I was growing up. I was the eldest of three daughters. He clearly was someone who believed in women’s rights well before there was such a thing as a women’s rights movement. He told me from the moment I can remember that I could be anything that I chose to be if I was prepared to work hard. He never set limits to my dreams. He encouraged my interest in mathematics. And I think without that encouragement I would be doing something very different today.

Recorded on: 8/7/07