Chicago Prodigy Dorothy Jean Tillman II Becomes Youngest Person to Earn Doctoral Degree at 17

Dorothy Jean Tillman II, a teenage prodigy from Chicago, has become the youngest person to earn a doctoral degree at the age of 17. Tillman, who began her college education at just 10 years old, has continually defied expectations and broken barriers in her academic journey.

Known as ‘Jeanius’ by her peers, Tillman was accepted into New York’s Excelsior College at the age of 10, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in humanities. By 14, she had already achieved her associate’s and master’s degrees. Now, at 17, she has made history once more by earning her doctorate in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University.

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Tillman’s dissertation, which focused on integrated behavioral health, was highly praised, and she defended it with commendable expertise, according to an associate professor at the university. Named after her grandmother, the renowned American civil rights activist, and politician Dorothy Jean Tillman I, Tillman II has shown an extraordinary commitment to education and social causes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite already holding a master’s degree, Tillman felt compelled to further her education. At the same time, she was working on her science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) startup, the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. Her desire to understand and improve mental health drove her to pursue a doctorate.

As the youngest student in her program, Tillman faced unique challenges. “Everything that we were doing didn’t seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention,” she told The Associated Press. Her unconventional educational path meant she missed out on many traditional school experiences, but she has no regrets. “I didn’t have the everyday school things like homecoming dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that … that kind of create unity with my peers,” she reflected. Nonetheless, the support of her mother, Jimalita Tillman, and the blessings of her grandmother were instrumental in her success.

Jimalita Tillman shared with CNN the sacrifices her daughter made to achieve her goals, especially during the pandemic. “I knew what it took for her to go through that. She had to sacrifice a lot. A lot of her fears and going through different things during the pandemic. She emerged as a leader without fear, showing them how to navigate online schooling.”

Despite her rigorous academic schedule, Tillman made time for her passion for dance, which helped her maintain her mental well-being. Now, as she considers her next steps, Tillman is embracing her youth. “It was always a very hard thing to kind of stomach mentally being so young. When you get out of college, you’re thinking, ‘What do I do next?’ Now I am able to sit in the comfortability of being a teenager and being OK with the fact that I don’t have to figure out what comes next.”

Looking forward, Dorothy Jean Tillman II plans to engage in public speaking and fundraising for her startup, continuing to inspire and lead as she has throughout her remarkable journey.