NEWARK, NJ - AUGUST 26: Dorothy Jean Tillman, WHO ROCKS NEXT honoree attends the Black Girls Rock! 2018 Pre Dinner at Nico Kitchen & Bar on August 26, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for BET)
Dorothy Jean Tillman is living years ahead of her age! At just 17 years old, Tillman earned her Ph.D. from Arizona State University.
The Chicago native impressively completed and defended her dissertation for the university’s Integrated Behavioral Health program, per ABC7 Chicago.
So now, it’s Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman to us!
In an Instagram announcement of the doctoral degree, Dr. Tillman said she will participate in the commencement activities in May.
“I have so many people to thank for supporting me on this journey, but for now, I’ll just say thank you to my No. 1 champion, my Mom,” Dorothy wrote.
Her new certification adds to a well-rounded education, including her high school diploma, bachelor’s, and double master’s. But, according to the outlet, Dorothy Jean Tillman is less concerned with her credentials on paper. Instead, the teen wants to inspire other kids and teens to “dream big.”
That’s why she started her own STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) program when she was 14 years old. Tillman named it the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute.
Her leadership institute hosts initiatives and events year-round, per ABC7 Chicago. However, its standout committee is the summer camp program.
“I felt like I had to be in either an arts program or a STEM program. I never felt like I got both at the same time. And so integrating those and making it so they know, like, the right brain can’t work without the left brain, I feel like is what makes it different,” Dr. Dorothy Jean said. “I think the quality is a lot better than the quantity, and so making sure I harp on curriculum.”
And Dorothy is already impacting how future generations access wealth. In fact, some of her campers have reportedly started their own businesses due to the institute.
Watch her interview with the outlet below.
Most recently, Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman took a trip to New York City for the annual 40 under 40 event by Black Enterprise, per her mother. Dorothy was a part of the inaugural class of 2021 and showed up in support of the class of 2023. While there, she had an opportunity to network with Sisters Inc., a charitable foundation aimed at helping students receive higher education, scholarships, and more.
Peep the photos below.
Tillman’s journey is among plenty of teen success stories that have hit the media this year. As previously reported by The Shade Room, Florida teen Janiya Baker shook folks when she went from a freshman to a senior in just one year. She’s the first Miami-Dade County student to do so.
