Dr. Tiffany Gillum walked the stage 20 years ago as the Hempstead High School’s class of 2002 Salutatorian and Class President. While at Hempstead ISD, Dr. Gillum was a Texas Scholar, a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, PALS, FFA, the Varsity Basketball team, and participated in numerous UIL academic events, and Yearbook.
Perhaps even more important than those lofty accomplishments, her interest in being a dentist began during her time at Hempstead High.
"I was blown away by a presentation given by Dr. Harold Black in Hempstead," Gillum said. "I began researching the field and found less than one percent of dentists in the U.S. were African American females, and that motivated me to talk to some influential teachers in my life to learn how I could pursue that dream."
Gillum dedicated herself to her studies and credited teachers like Anthony Borski, Vickey Cole, Jackie Romine, Gail Schroeder, Renee Stubblefield, and Clara Timmerman with helping her realize her own potential, even when she didn't see it in herself.
"It would have been easy for me to believe that little voice inside telling me a small town girl could never achieve that dream," Gillum said. "But my teachers told me I had all the tools I needed, and I believed them."
Gillum earned the Provost’s Scholarship at Baylor University, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo scholarship, the Waller County Go Western Gala scholarship, Waller County Edmond’s Insurance scholarship, and many more. Those scholarships helped her graduate with honors from Baylor University with a bachelor’s in Biology and Chemistry and hundreds of community service involvement hours.
From there she graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center. She is now the owner of Element Dental & Orthodontics, with locations in both Lufkin and Tomball. Gillum's entrepreneurial spirit led her to open TRG Trucking in 2018 and Solid Rock Homes in 2021, furthering her ability to give back to the community she loves.
"There is no question I could not have accomplished any of this if it were not for God, my amazing parents Don and Sharon Gillum, my grandparents Joe and Verna Gillum, Ben and Blanche Barley, mentor Patricia Dever, my family, and of course, the Waller County community. My foundation in Hempstead ISD was pivotal in my success today."