Teen walks at graduation after completing doctoral degree at 17!

Dorothy Jean Tillman II, a 17-year-old from Chicago, recently earned her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University, making her the youngest to do so in the university's history. Tillman, who was homeschooled early on, began college at 10 and completed a Master's degree by 14. At 15, she joined ASU's Doctorate of Behavioral Health Management program and defended her dissertation in December 2023. Tillman attributes her academic drive to her family's influence, particularly her grandmother's emphasis on education. She has also founded a leadership institute focusing on arts and STEM education. Tillman acknowledges her mother as a major motivator and stresses the importance of continually seeking knowledge. Despite her early accomplishments, she is taking time to explore her future goals and encourages young people to embrace the journey of figuring out their aspirations.