Dorothy Jean Tillman, a 17-year-old from Chicago, has set a new record by becoming the youngest person globally to achieve a PhD. Her academic journey commenced with a university course at the age of 10. Remarkably, by 14, Dorothy Jean Tillman had secured an associate diploma, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree.
Excelsior University alumnus, Dorothy Jean Tillman recently received her Doctor of Behavioral Health at Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions. Her dissertation research focused on the impact of implementing an outreach and education program aimed at reducing the stigma associated with using campus mental health services among college-aged students. Tillman made national headlines by being the youngest person to ever graduate from the program.
Tillman, who is from Chicago, started her higher education journey at age 10, earning her associate degree from the College of Lake County in Grayes Lake, Illinois. She became Excelsior’s youngest graduate in 2018, earning her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts when she was 12 years old before continuing to earn a master’s degree from Unity College in Unity, Maine at age 14. Tillman is the founder and CEO of the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute, which creates pathways for underrepresented students to succeed in fields related to science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
“My Excelsior experience was inclusive and supportive,” said Tillman. “Access to my instructors was always at the tip my fingers. The standard of learning was innovative and provided context for making global impact on humanity.”
The Bronzeville teen dedicated herself to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education, and founded the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute in Chicago and the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Labs in Chicago and West Cape Town, South Africa. She also advises the Ghanaian government on STEAM education and programs for youth.
But her journey hasn’t always been easy. Being in a league of her own with her academics was often isolating, she said.
“Not having the same things that my peers had, not getting to go to school dances and join school groups were what I was really missing out on,” Dorothy said. “I bring that to parents’ attention before they think about homeschooling their kids.”
Dorothy’s mom said she noticed that from a young age, the girl was beyond her years and could handle more advanced material. Tillman enrolled her in high school-level classes after school when she felt the rigor of her elementary school wasn’t enough.
At 10 years old, Dorothy enrolled at the College of Lake County where she majored in psychology and completed her associate’s degree in 2016.
She excelled in her courses, her mom said, though professors at College of Lake County initially didn’t want to teach someone so young and didn’t think she could handle the material. The president of the college had to grant her permission to attend.
“She proved that she could always keep up,” Tillman said. “She didn’t think the rigor was a big deal.” She then completed a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Excelsior University, an online school in New York.
“Dr. Tillman has a responsibility to carry to be a shining light for young people, for them to know they can do it,” the former City Council member said. “To have the humility that she has with it is very representative of how I tried to raise all of my children.”
