- Seventeen-year-old Dorothy Jean Tillman II from Chicago earned her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University, becoming the youngest person in school history to do so
- Homeschooled early on, she entered college at 10 and completed her dissertation in December 2023, focusing on reducing healthcare stigma
- Tillman, who also founded a leadership institute integrating arts with STEM education, credits her family’s support and continuous learning mindset for her remarkable achievements
In an extraordinary achievement, 17-year-old Dorothy Jean Tillman II from Chicago walked at Arizona State University’s (ASU) spring commencement ceremony on May 6, celebrating her earning a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health.
Tillman’s academic journey is nothing short of remarkable, having entered college at the age of 10 and completing her doctoral dissertation in December 2023.
Tillman’s passion for learning was evident from an early age. Homeschooled initially, she transitioned to college life at the tender age of 10.
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By 2020, she had earned a Master of Science degree, and by 15, she was accepted into the Doctorate of Behavioral Health Management program at ASU.
Her dissertation, which focused on reducing healthcare stigma and improving access to student health services, was overseen by Dr.
Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at ASU. Manson praised Tillman as an “inquisitive” and “innovative” student, noting her rare accomplishment and leadership qualities.
“She really led change and worked on different forms of management to reduce healthcare stigma,” Manson told “Good Morning America.”
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Tillman’s dedication to education is deeply rooted in her family’s values.
Her grandmother, a participant in the Civil Rights movement, and her mother, whom she regards as a significant motivator, instilled in her the importance of continuous learning.
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“Seeing my mother consistently work so hard to uphold our family’s legacy definitely made me want to grow up into an accomplished person,” Tillman said.
Besides her academic pursuits, Tillman is also a community advocate.
She is the founder and CEO of a leadership institute that emphasizes the integration of the arts with STEM education, aiming to excite and inspire young minds about the possibilities within these fields.
Despite her impressive achievements, Tillman remains grounded and reflective about her future.
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“I’m really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that I’ve done so much so young,” she remarked.
She encourages other young people to embrace the journey of figuring out their own paths, emphasizing that it’s okay not to have everything figured out immediately.
