Major congratulations are in order for 17-year-old Dorthy Jean Tillman. Upon successfully defending her dissertation, the Chicago-native has now earned her doctorate degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University!
“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,” the now, Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman, DBH, captioned an image on Instagram.
She continued in her post, “I’m looking forward to participating in commencement activities at ASU in Phoenix next 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, @jimalita! 📸@kandid_kam.”
Tillman’s educational journey has been peppered throughout her time in school with nothing less than excellence. The teen entered high school at just nine-years-old, and by age 10, she had already completed an associate’s degree at College of Lake Country. At 12, Tillman had earned a bachelor’s degree from Albany’s Excelsior College. By 14-years-old, this truly talented scholar had already earned her master’s degree from Unity College.
Truly embracing her interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, (STEAM), Tillman founded a STEAM-based summer camp, for children, ages 9-14, in order to help foster their love for STEAM as well.
“A lot of people are used to STEM camps, which is just science, technology, engineering and math,” Tillman stated in an interview with FOX32Chicago.com. She continued, “But I felt like that right brain/left brain dynamic was never explored in a lot of programs I had been put in, so I wanted to create my own program.”
In addition to everything else that Tillman has on her plate, Tillman also launched the Dorthy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute, to provide school and community-based assistance in the realms of mental and behavioral health services. The organization’s website describes Tillman’s main goal even further stating that, “The goal of the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute is to create pathways for more underrepresented groups…through exposure and opportunities to lead. Diversity in STEAM industries brings together different perspectives, creates a better experience, and generates better results. [STEAM] is a broad educational program that spills over into many industries and technologies, affecting everyday life.”
Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman, DBH has plans to join her class in May in Tempe, AZ in order to receive her diploma in person.
Congratulations Dr. Tillman! You are truly the personification of #blackexcellence!
Photo Credit(s): @kandid_kam
