{"id":8178,"date":"2024-05-15T01:42:03","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T01:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=8178"},"modified":"2024-05-15T01:42:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T01:42:03","slug":"teen-earns-doctoral-degree-at-17-after-defending-her-dissertation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=8178","title":{"rendered":"Teen earns doctoral degree at 17 after defending her dissertation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 50 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

A teenager from Chicago walked in her graduation ceremony this month after earning her doctoral degree at 17.<\/p>\n

Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II was only 10 when she became a freshman at the College of Lake County, majoring in Psychology. In 2020, she earned her Master of Science from Unity College.<\/p>\n

She was accepted in 2021, when she was 15, into the Doctor of Behavioral Health Management Program at Arizona State University.<\/p>\n

Speaking to \u201cGood Morning America,\u201d Tillman said she has always held education in such high regard in part due to her family\u2019s background.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople 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,\u201d Tillman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut 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 it doesn\u2019t just have to be all of the subjects that they teach you in school there\u2019s so many things in the world to learn about that we wish we knew about,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel like that urge to learn something new just never didn\u2019t exist for me.\u201d
\nTillman said, growing up, she had always felt drawn towards psychology and related fields.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve always made me so curious,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd so grinding away, I could continue to study in that area. With even more that was attached to it. It was just really intriguing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December 2023, at 17, Tillman successfully defended her dissertation to earn her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from ASU\u2019s College of Health Solutions. On May 6, she walked at ASU\u2019s commencement ceremonies.<\/p>\n

Tillman told \u201cGMA\u201d prior to the big day that she was feeling \u201cso excited,\u201d just like any other student.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love having a reason to celebrate and throw a big soir\u00e9e,\u201d she said. \u201cJust that walk, and especially with people I haven\u2019t been there, seeing every day, since my program is online, it\u2019s just gonna feel really fulfilling to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Leslie Manson, a clinical associate professor at ASU, told \u201cGMA\u201d that Tillman is the youngest person in school history to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful celebration, and we hope \u2026 that Dorothy Jean inspires more students,\u201d Manson said, adding of Tillman, \u201cBut this is still something so rare and unique.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II officially walked at her graduation ceremony in May.<\/em><\/p>\n

Throughout Tillman\u2019s time at ASU, Mason said she saw her growth in gaining the skills of professional writing as well as leadership, noting that Tillman is \u201cinquisitive\u201d and \u201cintelligent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful,\u201d Mason explained. \u201cAnd truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mason added that \u201cother students can really learn the piece of dedication\u201d from Tillman.
\n\u201cSo that motivating energy, those are the pieces that I think other folks can really turn to and feel inspired about,\u201d she said. \u201cThat curiosity is always there. And I think all learners come with that. But it\u2019s great to be able to see it in someone so young as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her inspiration and how she gives back to the community<\/h3>\n

Tillman\u2019s journey to success wouldn\u2019t be made possible without the support from her mom whom she said is one of her biggest motivators.<\/p>\n\n

Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II was only 10 when she became a freshman at the College of Lake County, majoring in Psychology.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing my mother consistently worked so hard to continuously uphold our family\u2019s legacy, and be that person that everyone was able to go to if they needed anything\u2026 Always seeing [her] like [a] \u2018Wonder Woman\u2019 definitely made me want to grow up [into] an accomplished person,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

An advocate for education, Tillman is also the founder and CEO of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute, where she runs programs like summer camps to help kids find balance between arts and STEM subjects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd it opens them up to all of the possibilities and all the knowledge provided in that area of just STEM.\u201d<\/p>\n

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