At 17, Dorothy Jean Tilma finished her PhD at Arizona State University in the United States, after earning her master’s degree at 14.

She is a brilliant girl who made headlines when she got her Master’s degree in environmental science and sustainable engineering from Unity College in Maine United States at 14.

She was among the world’s youngest to accomplish such an academic achievement. Dorothy had a remarkable academic journey since she was a child. She started talking at 8 months old and doing math at 4 years old. Her mother, Jimalita Tillman, said she realized her math skills when she was still a toddler.

Dorothy joined high school at nine years old and got her associate’s degree at the College of Lake County at 10. She then earned her bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Excelsior College in Albany, New York at 12.

Dorothy shared on her Instagram that she has successfully defended her dissertation making her earn a doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions at the young age of 17.

” I’m happy to share that I’ve completed my Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) studies at Arizona State University’s ASU College of Health Solutions! I am now Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman, DBH, since successfully defending my dissertation last week,” she said.

Dorothy’s research focused “on the impact of implementing an outreach and education program aimed at reducing the stigma associated with using campus mental health services among college-aged students,” she said.

Her goal, Dorothy said, is to raise awareness of the need for mental health support in educational facilities and to tackle the service gap for many young people who suffer from stigma.

She also founded the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute, which leverages her knowledge in environmental and sustainable science to increase the access to mental and behavioral health services in schools and communities.

Dorothy expressed her appreciation to everyone who assisted her in her academic journey, especially her mother. She called her mother her main ally.