Chicago Teen Dorothy Jean Tillman Earns a Doctoral Degree at 17
Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman earned a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State’s College of Health Solutions at only 17, making her the youngest person to achieve this before being eligible to vote. Dr. Tillman hopes her story inspires talkative, outgoing, and smart girls who are trying to figure themselves out. Dr. Tillman was part of a gifted program before transitioning to home-schooling.
Dorothy Jean Tillman II at Arizona State University’s commencement in Tempe, Ariz., this month. Ms. Tillman earned her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from the school at age 17. Credit...Tillman Family, via Associated Press
“... hopes her story resonates with girls who are talkative, outgoing ‘out-there kind of girls who are trying to figure themselves out but are very smart.’”
Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II earned a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State’s College of Health Solutions at only 17, making her the youngest person to achieve this even before being eligible to vote. Dr. Tillman hopes her story inspires talkative, outgoing, and smart girls who are trying to figure themselves out.
When Dorothy Jean Tillman II successfully defended her dissertation in November 2023 to earn her doctoral degree from Arizona State University, she couldn’t wait to share the news with her best friend.
Dr. Tillman, now 18, took part in Arizona State’s commencement ceremony and delivered remarks as the outstanding 2024 graduate at the College of Health Solution’s convocation.
Lesley Manson, program director for the doctorate of behavioral health at Arizona State and Dr. Tillman’s doctoral chair said Dr. Tillman displayed extraordinary perseverance, hard work, and dedication at her young age, tackling every challenge head-on. She can serve as a real role model,” Ms. Manson said.
Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II earned a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State’s College of Health Solutions at age 17
Dr. Tillman was part of a gifted program before transitioning to home-schooling. From a young age, Dorothy excelled in her academic pursuits.
By the age of 7, she was already completing high school-level work. She began taking college-level module tests and applying the credits towards higher education.
At 10, she earned her associate degree in psychology at the College of Lake County in Illinois. At 12, she received her Bachelor of Science in Humanities at Excelsior College in New York, and at 14, she earned a Master of Science from Unity College in Maine. She chose those fields because they can help scientists ‘understand why people treat the environment the way they do,’ she told Time for Kids in a July 2020 interview.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dorothy surprised her mother, Jimalita Tillman, by expressing her desire to pursue a doctorate. This was while Dorothy was already a year into launching a STEAM camp startup and seeking funding for the organization.
Because of her age, Dr. Tillman lived at home for her higher education, mostly studying online. Despite being a social butterfly, she found ways to stay connected with friends through after-school activities.
She was accepted into the management concentration at Arizona State’s College of Health Solutions, an online doctorate program. Her thesis on developing programs to reduce the stigma for college students seeking mental health services is based on a study she conducted for an in-person internship at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
“Children like Dr. Tillman possess an intense drive to master their skills. She refers to this as a ‘rage to master,’ highlighting the powerful motivation these children have. Winner also points out that their natural abilities make the learning process enjoyable and effortless for them. Schools are often not equipped for such gifted children, she added, which may lead parents to home-school their children.”
Dorothy not only focuses on her school work but also dedicates her time to running the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. The institute inspires hundreds of underserved young people in Chicago, as well as in countries like Ghana and South Africa, to pursue careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). The program includes guest speakers and open conversations about each of the five areas of STEAM.
Dr. Tillman recognizes her mother, Jimalita Tillman, as one of her greatest motivators. Jimalita Tillman's mother, Dorothy Wright Tillman, was a civil rights activist who worked alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and served as a Chicago alderman. Dr. Tillman is named after her grandmother, hence the "II" at the end of her name.
Theo Edwards for YAME
Congratulations on Your Graduating with a Master of Business Administration—MBA!
We're so proud of you for all your hard work and dedication. An incredible achievement to earn an MBA, but it is even more impressive to do so while juggling work, studies, and family responsibilities.
Sarah B H Ellis; MBA
Arden University, Birmingham, UK; Class of 2023
Congratulations, and we are so proud of you!
We're so proud of you for all your hard work and dedication. An incredible achievement to earn an MBA, but it is even more impressive to do so while juggling work, studies, and family responsibilities.
Congratulations on Your Graduating with a Master of Business Administration—MBA!
I know that it was not easy, but you never gave up. You worked hard, stayed focused, and never let anything get in your way —an inspiration to many, and we are so grateful to have you as a family.
Your MBA is a testament to your intelligence, drive, determination, and commitment to excellence. We know you have big plans for the future, and we're excited to see your accomplishment; with your skills and knowledge, you can make a difference in the world.
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Congratulations again, Aru, and we are so proud of you! Continue to do amazing things.
Tagged: #Arden University, Birmingham, UK | #StageClip | #ClassOf2023
Caps Off to You, Graduate!
We're so proud of you, and honored to celebrate graduation day with you!
By Theo Edwards
Estelle Nyandah Edwards
LaSalle University Class of 2023
Congratulations to Estelle Nyandah Edwards on her four-year journey at LaSalle University. We're so proud of you and honored to celebrate graduation day with you! As an Explorer, you never lost. You value the pursuit and exploration of knowledge and faith.
It finally paid off after years of hard work and sacrifice _a degree in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice. Your program of study allowed you the opportunity to excel in Law Enforcement. Your future is beyond bright.
May 13, 2023 Commencement
La Salle News
Highlight reel - Commencement 2023: Prepared for whatever comes next
“Classmates, when you enter the world, continue to remind yourself about how powerful the education is that you received at La Salle. Believe in how much you can accomplish, and if you are ever in doubt, bet on yourself. Use the tools in your toolbox and apply them to every situation you face.”
School Daze
This statuesque beauty lit the fuse of enlightenment within me by opening my eyes to literature, culture, and faraway exotic places. She inspired me to become an educator and spread the gift of knowledge she so graciously bestowed upon me.
Today, the mission remains the same to inspire young minds to reach for their goals. But the journey to help these young souls is drastically different than it was when I was a young student or a novice teacher.
By Jose` Manuel Guzman
Miss Jeffries was my first crush
By Jose` Manuel Guzman
As I grow older, I look back with increasing fondness during my formative years in school. I owe a debt I can’t possibly repay to the teachers who inspired my curiosity, creativity, and fire to succeed. Indeed, Miss Jeffries was my first crush. This statuesque beauty lit the fuse of enlightenment within me by opening my eyes to literature, culture, and faraway exotic places. She inspired me to become an educator and spread the gift of knowledge she so graciously bestowed upon me.
Today, the mission remains the same to inspire young minds to reach for their goals. For some, that will mean a college degree, and for others, it may mean a job that will hopefully provide enough security on which to live. But the journey to help these young souls is drastically different than it was when I was a young student or a novice teacher. Educators today are under increasing pressure. Teachers are still working in an underpaid and underappreciated profession.
Most teachers hold advanced degrees, yet still, are not compensated with the starting salary comparable to their education. As a result, the teaching profession isn’t as attractive as it used to be as an older generation of teachers retires.
The need for a new generation of teachers to carry on the torch will be significant. But, even as a veteran teacher, I have difficulty suggesting the profession that I love and appreciate those pursuing education as a career goal.
The idea of summers off (without pay) and paid holidays is no longer the carrot. The realities of the stress of politicians, businessmen, and school administrators trying to climb up the ladder to “get out of the classroom” make the profession less desirable. This quite troubling with dire consequences especially for those children trapped in disadvantaged communities.
Teachers do not get the respect they truly deserve. For many teachers, dispensing wisdom is only a fraction of their extensive portfolio. Dedicated teachers are also social workers, therapists, and even sacrifice financially to aid needy students or school districts with limited funds. The reward for such efforts has been layoffs, larger class sizes, and a minuscule increase in salary. The teacher’s strikes in Chicago and Los Angeles highlighted these issues as educators strive to attain fair resources and wages.
On campus, the pressures are no less acute. Standardized testing and its increased demands for accountability have added to the pain for as we know not all school districts are financially equitable. Add to the equation feckless bureaucrats with limited classroom experience and the litigious and indifferent parents, the morale of educators has plummeted. Additionally, the increasing spectre of school violence and the inability to be allowed to discipline unruly students are all factors that have led to teacher malaise and burnout.
I love my job despite the drawbacks. Teaching remains one of the noblest of all professions. God knows the majority of us are not in it for the money. We get intrinsic joy from our student’s successes. I get a fantastic feeling when I run into old students who share tales of academic and professional triumphs and remember me fondly. As well, those have fallen upon hard times and reflect on the advice that I gave earlier about the importance of earning an education. The rewards are not immediate, but we do make a difference.
Our nation needs to reinvest in our kids and educational infrastructure. The future depends on a highly skilled and educated workforce to meet the challenges of a global economy. We need your support, together, we will claim the future one graduate at a time.
6 Skills Needed for All Jobs Regardless of Field
This post is from NBC Parent Toolkit.
You have likely heard about “soft skills” before. But what are they? Sometimes referred to as “21st-century skills,” “interpersonal skills,” or “applied skills,” they are the skills that are non-technical or specific to a certain job. They are the skills that help you think, communicate with people, and reflect on your experiences. Basically, your young adult needs them to thrive in the workforce. Career coach Jane Horowitz says the basis of her coaching practice is “hire for attitude, train for skills,” and she sees will and drive as being the greatest determinants of young adults getting hired.
And your young adult needs each one of them to thrive in the workforce
This post is from NBC Parent Toolkit.
You have likely heard about “soft skills” before. But what are they? Sometimes referred to as “21st-century skills,” “interpersonal skills,” or “applied skills,” they are the skills that are non-technical or specific to a certain job. They are the skills that help you think, communicate with people, and reflect on your experiences. Basically, your young adult needs them to thrive in the workforce. Career coach Jane Horowitz says the basis of her coaching practice is “hire for attitude, train for skills,” and she sees will and drive as being the greatest determinants of young adults getting hired.
“We hear it time and time again, it’s the soft skills,” says Terri Tchorzynski, 2017 National School Counselor of the Year. “That’s what allows you to keep the job. Employers can hire our students and train them, but if they don't have the soft skills, it's really hard for them to stay employed."
According to the Harvard University “Pathways to Prosperity Project” study in 2011, U.S. employers are increasingly seeing students graduate from college unequipped to survive in the 21st century workforce. Specifically, they are “deficient” in skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and communication. Bruce Tulgan, founder and CEO of Rainmaker Thinking and expert and author on young people in the workplace, has been tracking the generational change in the workplace since 1993. According to Tulgan (and many other experts and employers), there is a gap in soft skills from previous generations to the generation entering the workforce today.
A Closer Look At The Suspensions of African American Students
UNDERSTANDING FACTORS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN A SOUTH BALTIMORE SCHOOL
This qualitative research study examined the suspensions of African American students at a south Baltimore k-8 school. The research delved into the perceptions of African American students, school and district administrators to determine what factors, policies and practices influenced the suspension rates among African American students who were the minority-majority at the school. It also sought to delineate the implications of reducing suspensions among African American students, and finally provided recommendations from study participants on how to reduce the suspension rates of African American students.
By Theodosia M. Edwards; M.Ed., M.P.A., Ed.D.
EDLD Dissertation
The researcher concluded that while the suspension rates of students increased at the school and for African American students between 2012-2014, the trend since 2014 has been a continuing decline in the suspension of all students and African American students. The researcher also found that factors such as school and community culture, the lack of student interventions, and a coherent restorative practices model, among other factors, have all influenced the suspension rates of African American students.
Dr. Theodosia M. Edwards
Research Study: A Closer Look At The Suspensions of African American Students
“UNDERSTANDING FACTORS, POLICIES AND, PRACTICES IN A SOUTH BALTIMORE SCHOOL: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SUSPENSIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS
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A focus on providing resources through mental and counseling supports, and ongoing professional development for staff, students, teachers, and community members would help all stakeholders to take ownership of student behaviors and would help to increase the outcomes of African American students while reducing the need for out of school suspensions.