- Dorothy Jean Tillman II attended Arizona State University’s May 6 commencement ceremony, marking another milestone in her journey to higher education that began at the age of 10.
- Through her travels, she earned an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree.
- Tillman successfully defended her thesis last December, making her the youngest person to earn a doctoral degree at Arizona State University at the age of 17.
Dorothy Jean Tillman II’s participation in Arizona State University’s May 6 commencement is the latest in a journey into higher education that began when the Chicago teen took her first college course at age 10. It was a step.
During that time, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees emerged.
Tillman successfully defended his thesis in December, making him, at 17, the youngest person to earn a doctorate in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University, said Associate Professor Leslie Manson.
College graduate teens before high school graduation
“This is a wonderful celebration and we hope Dorothy Jean will inspire more students,” Munson said. “But this is still something very rare and unique.”
Dorothy Jean Tillman II attends the Arizona State University commencement ceremony on May 6, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. Ms. Tillman, 18, received her doctorate in integrative behavioral health from the school in December, when she was 17 years old. Tillman, a Chicago resident, began taking college courses at the age of 10 and earned an associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree by the time she was 17. (Tillman family, via AP)
Tillman, known as “Dorothy Genius” by her family and friends, is the granddaughter of former Chicago City Councilwoman Dorothy Tillman.
While most students are learning to move on to middle school, Tillman enrolled Tillman in classes at Lake County College in northern Illinois, where she majored in psychology and graduated as a junior in 2016, according to her biography. He reportedly earned a bachelor’s degree.
Tillman earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Excelsior College in New York in 2018. After about two years, she earned her Master of Science degree at Unity University of Maine and was accepted into the Arizona State Behavioral Health Management Program in 2021.
Most of her classes were taught remotely and online. Tillman attended Arizona State University’s graduation ceremony in person and addressed the graduates during the ceremony.
Tillman told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she owed much of her academics and success to her grandmother and trusted her mother’s guidance.
“Everything we were doing wasn’t unusual or out of the ordinary to me until we started getting attention,” said Tillman, now 18.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
However, there were sacrifices.
“I didn’t have the regular events that you would have at school, like the homecoming dance or spirit week or school pictures… There was nothing that created unity with your peers.” she said.
She finds time to dance and choreograph. Tillman is also the founder and chief executive of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. This program includes a summer camp designed to support youth in the arts and her STEM subjects.
Her plans include public speaking and fundraising for the camp, and Tillman said she hopes to one day franchise the camp.
Munson said Tillman is motivated and has innovative ideas. “I think what’s really impressive is that she embodies what it means to be a true leader.” he added.
Jimalita Tillman is most impressed by her daughter’s ability to gracefully represent herself and her successes, but when it comes to choosing between social outings and education, He also said that he understands whether he should “put it down.”
