She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the Emory University School of Law.

[9][10] In June of 2015, she and others were appointed to the newly configured Sweet Briar Board of Trustees by a settlement agreement approved by the Bedford County, Virginia Circuit Court.

[12] On January 7, 2019, Tomlinson joined the law firm Hall Booth Smith, P.C., as a partner specializing in complex litigation, crisis management, and strategic solutions.

[13] On February 8, 2024, Teresa Tomlinson was lead trial counsel for the Plaintiff Christina Necole Vazquez Klecha who received a jury award of $20.7 million for the wrongful death of her father, George ("Bick") Hale Bickerstaff, III.

[18][19] Under her leadership, the Columbus Consolidated Government balanced the budget for the first time in 16 years using no reserve funds[20][21] and provided city and county services at the cost of $1,300 per person.

[29] Over two miles of the Chattahoochee River were returned to its natural state, creating the world's longest Whitewater Course in an urban setting.