Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II and her professor Dr. Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at Arizona State University. Courtesy of Arizona State University/W Scott Mitchell
She was homeschooled, became a college freshman at 10! Dorothy Jean Tillman earned her associates degree at 10, her bachelors at 13, her masters at 15 and now her doctorate in behavioral health at 17. Pretty impressive!
ABC NEWS: ByShafiq Najib via logo May 14, 2024, 5:07 PM
A teenager from Chicago walked in her graduation ceremony this month after earning her doctoral degree at 17.
Dorothy Jean Tillman II told "Good Morning America" that she was homeschooled in her early years before entering college at age 10.
In 2020, she said she earned a Master of Science degree, and then, one year later, at age 15, was accepted into the Doctorate of Behavioral Health Management program at Arizona State University.
In December 2023, at 17, Tillman successfully defended her dissertation to earn her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from ASU's College of Health Solutions.
On May 6, she walked at ASU's spring commencement ceremony.
Tillman told "GMA" she has always held education in such high regard in part due to her family's background.
"People in my life like my grandmother, who was part of the Civil Rights movement, she of course harped on the importance of education and consistently learning something always," Tillman said. "But the way I always held education so high on my own, aside from being raised that way, was finding different things to be educated about."
She continued, "I feel like that urge to learn something new just never didn't exist for me."
Dr. Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at ASU, told "GMA" that Tillman is the youngest person in school history to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health.
Manson said she oversaw Tillman's dissertation for the doctoral program offered through ASU Online.
During her studies, Tillman wrote a journal article of her dissertation and completed an internship at a university student health center, according to Manson.
"She really led change and worked on different forms of management to really reduce healthcare stigma and improve that student population there to be able to enter and accept student health services," she said of Tillman. "It was wonderful to see her and help her navigate some of those personal and professional interactions and grow through those experiences."
Manson described Tillman as an "inquisitive" and "innovative" student, and emphasized just how rare it is to accomplish what she has so far.
"It's a wonderful celebration ... but this is still something so rare and unique," she said. "She has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful, and truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader."
Manson said she hopes Tillman continues to inspire people with her love of learning, saying, "That curiosity is always there, and I think all learners come with that, but it's great to be able to see it in someone so young as well."
Her inspiration and how she gives back to community Tillman said her own journey wouldn't be possible without the support of her mom, who she said is one of her biggest motivators.
"Seeing my mother consistently work so hard to continuously uphold our family's legacy, and be that person that everyone was able to go to, if they needed anything ... always seeing [her] like [a] 'wonder woman' definitely made me want to grow up [into] an accomplished person," she said.
An advocate for education, Tillman is also the founder and CEO of a leadership institute that emphasizes the arts and STEM.
"I feel like adding art and putting a focus on it throughout science, technology, engineering and math makes the kids excited to learn all those things," she said. "And it opens them up to all of the possibilities and all the knowledge provided in that area of just STEM."
As for her plans after graduation, Tillman said she is "just like any other teenager, still figuring out what my specific dreams and goals are."
"I'm really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that I've done so much so young," she said. "And I have time to kind of think that through."
Tillman added that she hopes young people will take away from her story that it's OK to continually figure out what you want to do in life.
"Always remember that everyone has points in their life where they feel like they're figuring it out," she said. "And so figuring things out, not knowing what you want isn't a bad thing. But making the choice not to sit down and try to figure it out is."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional quotes from Tillman since its original publish date of May 13, 2024.
Maxcollins042: Just learn a thing or two from what the OP has posted or just shut up if you have nothing meaningful to say.
And what is there to learn again?
Chucks13: Honestly I have be avoiding to comment on this unecessary Harry-Meghan bruhaha.
I'm so upset that old men, women, monarchs, a whole obi of Onitsha left his own throne flew down to Lagos just because of a young man called Harrry and I'm seen Bianca, Okoya, etc opening teeth to have handshake with this boy who is not even heir to the UK throne so if its Charles the King that came what will happen?
Sorry this is serious complexity slavery. In UK who cares about Harry-Meghan? Do British cares about obi of Onitsha a paramount king here in Nigria? then what the f u c k is all these nonsense with Harry?
He came to see wounded soldiers for what? Is he a doctor? Or a cash donor? Or what?
SMARTMOTORS: Omoo but why Aunty Megan Chest flat like this na!.....abi dem amputate her Nri nwa too?
She looked sick and shriveled, where she's trying to stay slim,abi fit, for her husband. Meanwhile the man is looking fresh and young as ever. Soon he'll lose taste of that hag
chopnaira: It's still humanitarian. You think it's easy for a westerner like Harry to just wake up and decide to have a date with African mosquitoes and diseases.
michlins: What my christians don't know is that there are more moslems than Christians in Israel.
This war isn't about Christianity and Islam. It's war about land. Ancestral lands for that matter. Generations will come and go but there will be no winners.
Read your Bible and see how Israel has gone into slavery and come back to claim the land. So they're winning today doesn't mean they will win forever. Less than a century ago, Hitler made many of them deny being Jewish but today they have the upper hand.
What tomorrow will look like is something we can not predict for now but I know it's winner takes it all situation
SmartyPants: Brother learn to be smart. The second pic is obviously her before she was abducted. The boy in the pic could be a relative, not the son referenced here.
Engineer Kunle Cole, the father-in-law of Wofai Fada addresses the disclaimer regarding the family’s rejection of their son’s wedding while listing reasons.
This came after Wofai Fada and her partner, Taiwo Cole engaged and did their traditional wedding in Ugep, Cross River State.
During a audio leaked conversation between Taiwo’s father and his friend, the engineer addressed the relationship of his son with the actress and his reason for a public disclaimer
According to the engineer through leaked conversation, Wofia Fada is 38 years old while his son is 30; and the marriage arrangement was briefly mentioned to him without proper channels followed.
He added that his son who met Wofai barely 7 months ago claimed she was pregnant with his child, hence, the rush to tie the knot without wasting time unlike his father’s suggestion to investigate her background.
Something is fishy here. Why the rush? I feel like the marriage will not last
Selective prosecution (political persecution) started the day EFCC was created. For the most part,it's just a tool in the hand of those in power irrespective of party...PDP AND APC alike .
You guys better stop excusing sleeping around anyway even if it did, because at the end, in proper polygamy, man marries woman properly before sleep with her.
At the very least the bible does not allow sleeping before proper marriage
The bolded is false! The rest is what you should actually be saying
nairalanda1: SO, why didn't he tell his wife before they get married that he was going to be sampling kpekus after they got married?
Do you know how many men have sampled kpekus and brought problem for their long suffering wives?
Plus, if he is free to sample kpekus, so is the woman. If a woman is willing to sleep with a married man, chances are, she is sleeping with other men too...danger ahead.
And after you people will come and be claiming 'am a christian'. Why follow a religion that pracicies monogamy, when you can be free to be a polygamist?
Plus, even in the days our forefathers were practicing polygamy, all of them properly married their wives before they sampled the kpekus. Not this one where one man turns himself into many women's latrine, as you seem to be advocating.
Gistmedia10: A soon-to-be-married Wisconsin elementary school teacher has been arrested after her alleged sexual assault of an elementary school student.
Madison Bergmann, 24, was arrested and faces one count of first-degree child sexual assault after a parent of a fifth grader reported her to River Crest Elementary School administrators and police.
On Wednesday, the child’s father handed over printed text messages between Bergmann and the student, where she allegedly told the child that she liked when the victim touched her and that she enjoyed ‘making out’ with them.
Engaged teacher arrested for s3xually assaulting school student just two months before her wedding as police reveal their sickening conversations
‘Learning about a school staff member and alleged inappropriate conduct that breaches trust is deeply troubling for all of us,’ the school said in a statement to staff and parents.
According to her Facebook, Bergmann got engaged to her fiancé Ben in December and their wedding is set for July 27.
Engaged teacher arrested for s3xually assaulting school student just two months before her wedding as police reveal their sickening conversations The child’s mother initially overheard the student and Bergmann talking on the phone before she informed the child’s father, according to KARE 11.
During her interview with police, she told authorities that the victim’s mother allegedly gave her the student’s phone number after the family invited her to Afton Alps, a skiing resort, over winter break.
Melagros: How would men report rape after fully knowing that it is enjoyable? Wait a minute, a lady once confided in me that women enjoy sex far more than men do, she also reiterated that any woman who claims that she doesn't enjoy sex that woman is pretending Honestly, I was baffled at the lecture that day
Not true for all ladies, your friend should speak for herself only. Physiology varies
Iykegodslove: Good day everyone!! I am emotionally shattered as I type this message. I have been suspecting my wife for years now but no concrete evidence to confront her.
There is a boss of my mine who happens to be our family friend. Each time he calls my wife, she deletes the call history immediately. This has been happening for years but I keep quite because i love my wife and my children so much.
Of recent, i decided to know what is happening by hacking her call with him. Lo and behold, they are into deep relationship that my wife calls him baby. Infact, sleep has gone out of my eyes and am thinking of how to deal with the situation.
It should be noted that i am not working under the man in question only that we are church members and he has rendered countless of help to me. I am wondering what puts my wife into this mess. I am graduate but i decided not to work for anybody but to focus on my farming. I am doing well financially bcs i can boost of 500k or more every month. We are not lacking anything at all.
Please house ignore my typo and help with good advice.
Note: i dnt want to divorce my wife and am ready to forgive her bcs she has been of great help to my success and moreover, i love my family very well. What should i do to stop them?
Well if your story is true, I'd advise you get hard evidence,then find out why she's cheating. Since you're bent on keeping the family unit, which is quite admirable!
WorkTheTalk: When would the world stand up for Sudan? When would the pro-sudan protestors occupy schools and business premises? When would UN and ICC hold the people responsible for destructions in Sudan accountable? I remember. No Jews, no news.
Truth!
israelmao: Hunger is a wicked thing,I pray for immediate divine supply for the hungry.
Pandora Hoebi the Gbajue don deceive this one say him go become President and turn Nigeria to paradise. Failed Anambra Governor, yeye Obedient IPOB cannibals
Education › Re: 17 YEAR OLD EARNS DOCTORATE DEGREE by Trueprophet91(op): 8:59am On May 16, 2024
