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17-Year-Old Genius Dorothy Jean Tillman II Makes History as Youngest Person to Earn Doctorate From Arizona State University

Also known as “Dorothy Jeanius,” Tillman started college courses at age 10.

View this video on YouTube

A Chicago-area teen genius just made history.

Dorothy Jean Tillman II, also known as “Dorothy Jeanius,” officially earned her doctorate in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University at age 17, becoming the youngest person in the university’s history to do so, the Associated Press reports . She attended the commencement ceremony earlier this month.

Tillman told Good Morning America that she had been homeschooled during her early childhood before entering college when she was merely 10 years old. 

Per the AP, Tillman earned her bachelor’s degree in humanities from Excelsior College in New York in 2018.

GMA says Tillman earned a Master of Science degree in 2020 from the Unity College of Maine before being accepted into the Doctorate of Behavioral Health Management program at ASU the following year, at age 15.

"People in my life like my grandmother [Dorothy Tillman], who was part of the Civil Rights movement, she of course harped on the importance of education and consistently learning something always," Tillman told GMA . "But 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."

View this photo on Instagram

"I feel like that urge to learn something new just never didn't exist for me," she added.

"She really led change and worked on different forms of management to really reduce healthcare stigma and improve that student population there to be able to enter and accept student health services," Dr. Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at the university, told GMA . "It was wonderful to see her and help her navigate some of those personal and professional interactions and grow through those experiences."

"It's a wonderful celebration...but this is still something so rare and unique," Dr. Manson added. "She has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful, and truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader."

Despite missing out on typical experiences like homecoming dances, spirit weeks, and other school functions, Tillman told the Associated Press that she found time for dance and choreography and founded the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute , aimed at helping youth in arts and STEM subjects.

As for her next steps, Tillman told GMA she is "just like any other teenager, still figuring out what my specific dreams and goals are."

"I'm really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that I've done so much so young," she added. "And I have time to kind of think that through."

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A Chicago teen entered college at 10. At 17, she earned a doctorate from Arizona State

Dorothy Jean Tillman II participates in Arizona State University’s commencement, May 6, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Tillman, 18, earned her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health in December at age 17 from the school. Tillman, of Chicago, began taking college courses at age 10. She earned her associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees before she turned 17. (Tillman Family via AP)

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CHICAGO (AP) — Dorothy Jean Tillman II’s participation in Arizona State University’s May 6 commencement was the latest step on a higher-education journey the Chicago teen started when she took her first college course at age 10.

In between came associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

When Tillman successfully defended her dissertation in December, she became the youngest person — at age 17 — to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health at Arizona State, associate professor Leslie Manson told ABC’s “Good Morning America” for a story Monday.

“It’s a wonderful celebration, and we hope ... that Dorothy Jean inspires more students,” Manson said. “But this is still something so rare and unique.”

Tillman, called “Dorothy Jeanius” by family and friends, is the granddaughter of former Chicago Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman.

When most students are just learning to navigate middle school, her mother enrolled Tillman in classes through the College of Lake County in northern Illinois, where she majored in psychology and completed her associate’s degree in 2016, according to her biography.

Tillman earned a bachelor’s in humanities from New York’s Excelsior College in 2018. About two years later, she earned her master’s of science from Unity College in Maine before being accepted in 2021 into Arizona State’s Behavioral Health Management Program.

Most of her classwork was done remotely and online. Tillman did attend her Arizona State commencement in person and addressed the graduating class during the ceremony.

Tillman told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she credits her grandmother and trusting in her mother’s guidance for her educational pursuits and successes.

“Everything that we were doing didn’t seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention,” said Tillman, now 18.

There have been sacrifices, though.

“I didn’t have the everyday school things like homecoming dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that ... that kind of create unity with my peers,” she said.

She has found time to dance and do choreography. Tillman also is founder and chief executive of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. The program includes summer camps designed to help young people in the arts and STEM subjects.

She said her plans include public speaking engagements and fundraising for the camp, which Tillman said she hopes to franchise one day.

Tillman is motivated and has innovative ideas, said Manson, adding, “And truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader.”

Jimalita Tillman said she is most impressed with her daughter’s ability to show herself and her successes with grace, but to also understand when to “put her foot down” when choosing between social outings and her education.

Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.

Chicago teen who started college at 10 earns doctorate degree at 17

Dorothy Jean Tillman II’s participation in Arizona State University’s May 6 commencement was the latest step on a higher-education journey the Chicago teen started when she took her first college course at age 10.

In between came associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

When Tillman successfully defended her dissertation in December, she became the youngest person — at age 17 — to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health at Arizona State,  associate professor Leslie Manson told ABC’s “Good Morning America”  for a story Monday.

“It’s a wonderful celebration, and we hope ... that Dorothy Jean inspires more students,” Manson said. “But this is still something so rare and unique.”

Tillman, called “Dorothy Jeanius” by family and friends, is the granddaughter of former Chicago Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman.

When most students are just learning to navigate middle school, her mother enrolled Tillman in classes through the College of Lake County in northern Illinois, where she majored in psychology and completed her associate’s degree in 2016, according to her biography.

Tillman earned a bachelor’s in humanities from New York’s Excelsior College in 2018. About two years later, she earned her master’s of science from Unity College in Maine before being accepted in 2021 into Arizona State’s Behavioral Health Management Program.

Most of her classwork was done remotely and online. Tillman did attend her  Arizona State commencement  in person and addressed the graduating class during the ceremony.

Tillman told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she credits her grandmother and trusting in her mother’s guidance for her educational pursuits and successes.

“Everything that we were doing didn’t seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention,” said Tillman, now 18.

There have been sacrifices, though.

“I didn’t have the everyday school things like homecoming dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that ... that kind of create unity with my peers,” she said.

She has found time to dance and do choreography. Tillman also is founder and chief executive of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. The program includes summer camps designed to help young people in the arts and STEM subjects.

She said her plans include public speaking engagements and fundraising for the camp, which Tillman said she hopes to franchise one day.

Tillman is motivated and has innovative ideas, said Manson, adding, “And truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader.”

Jimalita Tillman said she is most impressed with her daughter’s ability to show herself and her successes with grace, but to also understand when to “put her foot down” when choosing between social outings and her education.

For more from NBC BLK, sign up for our weekly newsletter .

The Associated Press

Top 10 Youngest People to Earn Their Doctorates

Hello again readers of Online-PhD-Programs.org! The school year approaches rapidly for most so we thought we would produce another list that is a tad on the lighter side of things. While it’s still hot outside, we are all thinking of syllabuses, the coming fall and the turning of the leaves, and research, lots of research. The following 10 people we have listed here are 10 of the youngest PhD’s in history. They range from ages 20-13 and some were speaking various languages, reading, and doing math while we were outside playing tag. Their specialties range from medicine to mathematics to literature. Of course, we include our typical information on the universities they attended. However, the ranking is based on their ages when they attained their PhD and not on university rankings.

[Ready to get started on your PhD? Check out our ranking of the best online doctoral programs !]

10. Akshay Venkatesh – Age 20

Venkatesh is an Australian born mathematician who graduated from secondary school at the age of 13. At the age of 11, he won a bronze medal in the International Physics Olympiad in Virginia. After gaining this achievement, he decided to switch his focus to math and won two more Olympiad metals in the field of Mathematics. He immediately matriculated at the University of Western Australia as the youngest student ever to enter the university. He is the youngest student every to gain first class honors in pure mathematics in 1997.

In 1998, Venkatesh began his PhD at Princeton University. His supervisor was Peter Sarnak and he completed the degree in 2002 at the age of 20. Venkatesh’s research interests are in counting, equidistribution problems in automorphic forms and number theory. Following his PhD, Venkatesh held a post-doctoral position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Venkatesh went to one of the top universities in the United States for his PhD. Princeton University is ranked #1 among national universities by U.S. News and World Reports and #11 internationally by QS Top Universities. Undergraduate tuition and fees is $43,450 per year. Although an undergraduate degree at Princeton is pricey, it was one of the first institutions in the U.S. to offer a “no loan” policy to needy students, offering grants to them instead. The department of mathematics is ranked #1 in the nation, tied with Massachusetts Institution of Technology, by U.S. News and World Report. Further, U.S. News ranks Princeton’s work in number Theory at #2, which is one of Venkatesh’s specialties. The student body is made up of 66% undergraduates and 34% graduate students with 65% of the post graduates and 35% of the undergrads being international students.

At the ripe age of 20 in 2002, Venkatesh already had a storied academic career. Since 2008, Venkatesh has been a professor of mathematics at Stanford University.

9. Erik Demaine – Age 20

Demaine was a child prodigy who spent much of his younger years travelling around North America and being homeschooled by his artist father Martin L. Demaine and his mother Judy Anderson. He is Canadian born and hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia. When he turned 14, he completed his undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University in Canada. By the time he was 20 years old, he had finished his PhD at the University of Waterloo in 2001. He was awarded the NSERC Doctoral Prize for his dissertation along with the Canadian General’s Gold medal from his university. His specialties are in the areas of Theory and Algorithms. His dissertation was a seminal work in the area of computational origami entitled Folding and Unfolding .

While the University of Waterloo is ranked #152 worldwide by QS Top University Rankings, its Computer Science department is ranked at #26 worldwide. Waterloo is a central hub of technology in Canada and is an apt place for a young Canadian genius to study Computers and Mathematics in the country. The university offers 190 doctoral and master’s degrees including in the fields of languages, mechanical engineering, pharmacy, mathematics, economics, civil engineering, and nanotechnology. Undergraduates make up 86% of the student population while 14% of the student population is graduate students. 28% of the graduate student population are international students.

In 2001, Demaine became the Massachusetts Institute and Technology’s youngest professor ever at the age of 20. Not only had he worked on computational origami, but he has also decoded an ancient Incan language and has worked on protein folding which interacts with the field of biology.

8. Charles Homer Haskins – Age 19

Haskins was an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson and was a historian of the middle ages. As a child, he became fluent in Latin and Greek. At the age of 16, Haskins graduated from Johns Hopkins University. He then studied in Paris and Berlin before returning to earn his PhD at Johns Hopkins University and finished at the age of 19 in 1890.

Johns Hopkins University has been ranked by Online PhD Programs at #1 for their online Doctor of Education degree. U.S. News and World Report ranks Johns Hopkins at #1 for being the best school in the field of education. U.S. News ranks Johns Hopkins at #10 overall among national universities while QS Top Universities ranks Johns Hopkins at #16 worldwide. The majority of students, 63%, are postgraduates making Johns Hopkins a hub of research and innovation. Of those 63% of postgraduates, 82% of them are international students making the student population among graduate students quite diverse. Haskins, of course, arrived at the university not long after it was founded in 1876, and, since then, the university has transformed itself into a powerhouse in the sciences and medicine.

In the same year he graduated with his PhD, Haskins taught at University of Wisconsin and in 1902 was appointed professor of history in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard. During his tenure at Harvard, he established what would become the standard for training graduate students in the field at Harvard. He was the first medieval historian in the U.S and his work concentrated on Norman institutions and the transmission of Greco-Arabic learning to the western world. He was only one of three advisors that President Wilson brought to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 where the Treaty of Versailles was created.

7. Juliet Beni – Age 19

At age 19, Beni completed her PhD in Psychology from University of California, Riverside. She is the daughter of UC Riverside engineering professors Susan Hackwood and Gerardo Beni. When Beni was 15 years old, she graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology. As a child, she and her sister went to Montessori preschool and then were homeschooled by both parents. Community college courses provided for Beni’s move into a four-year degree plan. During her time as a PhD student at UC Riverside, Beni was an instructor in Psychology for large health Psychology classes.

University of California, Riverside is part of the large network of world renowned states schools in the California University system. Founded in 1954, UC Riverside is ranked by U.S. News and World Report at #121 among national universities and #58 among top public schools. QS Top Universities ranks UC Riverside at #265 among universities worldwide. Like many of the universities in the University of California system, Riverside serves primarily undergraduates with the population of undergraduate students making up 88% of the school. Further, the student body at UCR is the most diverse body of students in the University of California system. Time magazine has ranked UC Riverside as one of the top universities to have success with low income students in the nation.

While Beni has completed her Phd in Psychology, She is currently a student in University of California, Irvine’s Haider program in Biomedical Science and hopes eventually to pursue her Medical Doctorate at UCLA. Her lifelong goal is to be a medical doctor. She is the youngest student to ever graduate with a PhD in the history of University of California, Irvine.

6. Sho Yano – Age 18

Yano is the son of Katsura Yano from Japan and Kyung Yano from South Korea. He was born in Portland, Oregon and is currently a physician. He was a child prodigy and was apparently reading at the age of two, playing classical music at the age of three, and composing music at the age of five. At the age of eight, he scored 1500 on the SAT, which, at the time, had a total score of 1600.

Yano entered college at the age of 9. He attended Loyola University, Chicago and graduated summa cum laude in three years. When he was 12 years old, he entered University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. In this program, students earn both a doctorate and a medical degree simultaneously. He did his residency in the area of pediatric neurology. His PhD is in molecular genetics and cell biology, which was completed after his first year of medical school in the program. By the time he was 18, he was in his second year of medical school and was interacting with patients as a PhD on his way to becoming an MD.

University of Chicago sits in good company with Columbia University and Stanford University since all three are tied at #4 in the U.S. New and World Report Rankings for best school in the nation. QS Top Universities ranks University of Chicago at an impressive #10 in the world. The university is clearly built for research with a majority, 59%, of its student population doing post-graduate work. U.S. News ranks University of Chicago’s medical research at #11 in the nation, tied with New York University and University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, #14 in Biological Sciences, and #12 in Chemistry.

Yano is currently continuing his pediatric neurology residency at the University of Chicago.

5. Norbert Wiener – Age 17

Wiener was a child prodigy that excelled in the area of Mathematics. He was homeschooled by his father Leo Wiener for most of his of pre-college education. At the age of 11, he graduated from Ayer High School and entered Tufts College. In 1909, Wiener graduated with his degree in Mathematics from Tufts.

In 1909, Wiener went to Harvard University to begin graduate work in the field of Zoology. Apparently, his experience at Harvard in the Zoology department did not go well so he transferred to the department of Philosophy. However, in 1910, he won a scholarship to Cornell University and transferred, studying both philosophy and mathematics at the graduate level. He ended up having a difficult time at Cornell and he returned to Harvard to continue his studies in Philosophy. While at Harvard, he went abroad and studied in Göttingen and Cambridge in the field of Mathematics. In 1912, at the age of 17, Wiener earned his doctorate in mathematics at Harvard University writing on mathematical logic.

After the completion of his doctorate, he worked as a professor at Harvard in Philosophy, worked for General Electric Company, wrote for Encyclopedia Americana in Albany, and eventually worked for the war effort on ballistics at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. After WWI was over, he became a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Harvard University, where Wiener obtained his doctorate, is ranked by U.S. News and World Report at #2 in the nation. Of course, Harvard is a global powerhouse in academics. QS Top Universities ranks Harvard University at #2 globally. Harvard is also the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S. and was founded 140 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. By the time Wiener showed up at Harvard, the institution was almost 300 years old. 68% of the student body are postgraduate students making the institution research centered.

4. Ruth Lawrence – Age 17

Lawrence grew up in Brighton, England and was a child prodigy, excelling in the field of Mathematics. When Lawrence turned 5, her father quit working as a computer consultant and homeschooled her. At the age of 9, Lawrence gained an O-level in mathematics (O-levels were a general certificate of education in a subject in the British system) which set the record at the time. She also gained an A-level in mathematics (A-levels were advanced general certificates of education in a subject in the British system) at the age of 9.

In 1981, Lawrence passed the University of Oxford entrance exam in mathematics, placing first among 530 students taking the exam, and she joined St. Hugh’s College in 1983 at the age of 12. She completed her degree in two years and graduated at the age of 13. She became the youngest person in Britain to gain a first class education and the youngest graduate of Oxford in modern times. After her first undergraduate degree, she purposed a second one in physics and finished in 1986. She completed her DPhil in mathematics at Oxford in 1989. Lawrence was 17 years old. Her thesis was entitled Homology Representations of Braid Groups .

The University of Oxford is another world renowned university represented in our list. At Online PhD Programs, we have ranked Oxford at #1 in our Top 10 International Distance Doctoral Programs. QS Top Universities ranks University of Oxford at #6 globally with the university being the #1 university in the world in the Arts and Humanities. It is the oldest university in the English speaking world. The university is made up of 39 self-governing colleges in a federal type system. There is no clear date of the foundation of the university but it appears that teaching was taking place at Oxford around 1096 and the organization of the university developed rapidly from 1167.

Lawrence has taught s both Harvard University and University of Michigan. She is currently teaching at the Einstein Institute of Mathematics at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

3. Balamurali Ambati – Age 17

As we move closer to our number 1 in the list, the feats of intellect begin to get more impressive and Ambati doesn’t disappoint. When Ambati was 4 years old, he was already doing calculus. Later, he attended Baltimore City College and graduated with his undergraduate degree at the age of 11. Also, when he was 11, he co-authored a research monograph on AIDS. His undergraduate work at New York University prepared him for his future profession. He completed a degree in Biology at the age of 13 in 1991. He went on to do work in medical training at SUNY – Buffalo and then received his Medical Doctorate from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine at the age of 17. He is the youngest medical doctor ever and is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records as such.

Ambati then went on to do residencies and internships at North Shore University Hospital, Beth Israel Medical Center, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He then proceeded in a fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at Duke University Eye Center in 2002. He then received a PhD from the Medical College of Georgia. In 2008, he joined the faculty at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Since Ambait received his first doctorate from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, we will look more closely at that institution rather than others here. U.S. News and World Report ranks Mt. Sinai at #21 among Medical Schools in the nation for research. Further, U.S. News ranks Mt. Sinai at #25 for best Medical Schools with a concentration in Primary Care. In terms of specialty programs, U.S. News ranks Mt. Sinai at #3 in Geriatrics. In terms of globally, U.S. News ranks Mt. Sinai at #159. QS Top Universities ranks Mt. Sinai’s Life Sciences and Medicine division at #163 globally.

2. Kim Ung-Yong – Age 15

Born in March of 1962, Ung-Yong was a child prodigy and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records has having the highest IQ at 210. He was speaking at the age of 6 months and he understood algebra at the age of 8 months. By the time he was 2 years old, he was fluent in Japanese, Korean, German, and English. By the time he was three, he had mastered a number of other languages. In 1967, he appeared on Fuju TV in Japan and solved differential equations on live TV. Also during the show, he wrote poetry in English, Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Japanese, and Korean.

Ung-Yong was a guest student at Hanyang University in the subject of physics from the age of 3 to the age of 6. When he was 7, NASA invited him to come to the U.S. from South Korea. He eventually ended up at Colorado State University as a PhD student and finished his doctorate at the age of 15. In 1974, NASA hired him as a researcher and he did this for about four years. However, he felt he had spread himself too thin and decided to return to Korea in 1978 where he pursued a career in civil engineering. He eventually received his second doctorate in civil engineering in Korea.

In terms of Colorado State University, where Ung-Yong received his first doctorate, our very own site has ranked a few of the online PhD programs there in our Top 10 Online Doctoral Programs in Leadership 2016 at #1 and our Top 9 Online Doctoral Programs in Engineering 2016 at #7. U.S. News and World Report ranks Colorado State University at #127 nationally and #236 globally.

Ung-Yong served as adjunct faculty at Chungbuk National University and, in 2014, became an associate professor in Shinhan University.

1. Karl Witte – Age 13

Witte was born in July of 1800 and was the son of a pastor named Karl Heinrich Goffried Witte. His father encouraged a rigorous learning environment and program. By the time Witte was nine years old he could speak German, French, Italian, Latin, and Greek. When he was still very young, he attended the University of Giessen in German and graduated with his doctorate at the age of 13. He still holds the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for youngest doctorate and this distinction still stands.

Witte’s father wrote a book about his program of education called The Education of Karl Witte: Or, The Training of a Child . This book was highly criticized in German and fell out of favor. It was almost nonexistent in the country. However, the book became a huge hit in China and became a bestseller at the beginning of the 21 st century. Millions of Chinese had hoped that their child would turn out to be just like Witte: A child prodigy.

The University of Giessen today is officially known as Justus-Liebig-University Giessen. The German system of higher education is very different from that of the one in the U.S. They do not have a tripartite system of BA/BS, MA, then PhD. Rather, German students go through a phase of advanced and junior studies for four semesters and then take an intermediate exam. Upon passing this exam, the student can then proceed to advanced and senior studies (6-8 semesters). This gives the student access to their first degree exams> The next level of study after that is the doctoral level.

Much of the rest of Witte’s life is clouded in mystery. It is said that he traveled through Italy in 1818 and had sought to become a lawyer at one point. However, he became known for and published on the works of Dante. His love of literature drew him to the epic poet and he spent his career as a Dante scholar.

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Teen walks at graduation after completing doctoral degree at 17

Dorothy Jean Tillman II was 10 when she entered college as a freshman.

A teenager from Chicago walked in her graduation ceremony this month after earning her doctoral degree at 17.

Dorothy Jean Tillman II told " Good Morning America " that she was homeschooled in her early years before entering college at age 10.

In 2020, she said she earned a Master of Science degree, and then, one year later, at age 15, was accepted into the Doctorate of Behavioral Health Management program at Arizona State University.

In December 2023, at 17, Tillman successfully defended her dissertation to earn her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from ASU's College of Health Solutions.

On May 6, she walked at ASU's spring commencement ceremony.

Tillman told "GMA" she has always held education in such high regard in part due to her family's background.

"People 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," Tillman said. "But 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."

She continued, "I feel like that urge to learn something new just never didn't exist for me."

Teen who battled leukemia and homelessness as a child graduates college at 18

Dr. Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at ASU, told "GMA" that Tillman is the youngest person in school history to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health.

Manson said she oversaw Tillman's dissertation for the doctoral program offered through ASU Online.

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During her studies, Tillman wrote a journal article of her dissertation and completed an internship at a university student health center, according to Manson.

"She really led change and worked on different forms of management to really reduce healthcare stigma and improve that student population there to be able to enter and accept student health services," she said of Tillman. "It was wonderful to see her and help her navigate some of those personal and professional interactions and grow through those experiences."

Manson described Tillman as an "inquisitive" and "innovative" student, and emphasized just how rare it is to accomplish what she has so far.

"It's a wonderful celebration ... but this is still something so rare and unique," she said. "She has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful, and truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader."

Manson said she hopes Tillman continues to inspire people with her love of learning, saying, "That curiosity is always there, and I think all learners come with that, but it's great to be able to see it in someone so young as well."

Her inspiration and how she gives back to community

Tillman said her own journey wouldn't be possible without the support of her mom, who she said is one of her biggest motivators.

"Seeing my mother consistently work so hard to continuously uphold our family's legacy, and be that person that everyone was able to go to, if they needed anything ... always seeing [her] like [a] 'wonder woman' definitely made me want to grow up [into] an accomplished person," she said.

An advocate for education, Tillman is also the founder and CEO of a leadership institute that emphasizes the arts and STEM.

"I 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," she said. "And it opens them up to all of the possibilities and all the knowledge provided in that area of just STEM."

'Super dad' graduates with master's while working 3 jobs

As for her plans after graduation, Tillman said she is "just like any other teenager, still figuring out what my specific dreams and goals are."

"I'm really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that I've done so much so young," she said. "And I have time to kind of think that through."

Tillman added that she hopes young people will take away from her story that it's OK to continually figure out what you want to do in life.

"Always remember that everyone has points in their life where they feel like they're figuring it out," she said. "And so figuring things out, not knowing what you want isn't a bad thing. But making the choice not to sit down and try to figure it out is."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional quotes from Tillman since its original publish date of May 13, 2024.

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Nineteen-Year-Old Prodigy Becomes One Of The Youngest PhDs in the World

Nineteen-year-old prodigy, Tanishq Mathew Abraham , has achieved an extraordinary feat by becoming one of the youngest individuals in the world to earn a PhD. The University of California at Davis is set to confer this prestigious honor upon him next week, marking a remarkable milestone in his already exciting journey.

Tanishq’s educational trajectory has been nothing short of awe-inspiring — he embarked on college courses at the tender age of seven while still in high school; At just ten years old, he completed high school and went on to graduate with an undergraduate degree from UC Davis at the remarkable age of fourteen.

His goal: To transform medicine using AI

Born and raised in an Indian American immigrant family, Tanishq has set his sights on revolutionizing the field of medicine through artificial intelligence. Recognizing the ongoing AI revolution, he aspires to be at the forefront of advancements in this domain. Speaking to the Sacramento Bee , he shared his passion for contributing to the transformative impact of AI in medicine.

You can now call Tanishq Mathew Abraham (19) a doctor. (Image: Tanishq.ai )

Those who know Tanishq have unwavering confidence in his ability to achieve greatness. Jean-Pierre Delplanque, the vice provost and dean of graduate studies at UC Davis , expressed his admiration for Tanishq’s exceptional accomplishments at such a young age. Delplanque firmly believes that Tanishq will continue to make significant contributions to society, leaving an indelible mark on the world.

During his upcoming commencement, Tanishq will have the honor of ringing the bell at UC Davis, a cherished tradition reserved for successful PhD candidates who have fulfilled all requirements.

Adding to the celebration, his sister, a second-year graduate music student at Indiana University, will serenade the audience with the national anthem, while his 90-year-old Indian American grandmother, who earned her PhD in the 1960s as a veterinarian, will be present to witness this momentous occasion.

Tanishq founded the Medical AI Research Center earlier this year. (Image: MedARC )

Founder of the Medical AI Research Center

Not content with his astounding achievements thus far, Tanishq founded the Medical AI Research Center earlier this year in collaboration with experts from Stanford and Princeton.

The center has already published a groundbreaking paper on MindEye, a technology that generates images from brain activity.

Tanishq’s story serves as an inspiration to all, showcasing the boundless potential of human intellect and determination. As he embarks on the next chapter of his journey, his impact on the world is eagerly anticipated, and his unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation is a testament to his remarkable character.

Filed in Medical . Read more about AI (Artificial Intelligence) .

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10 Youngest Ph.D. Holders In History (Age, Location)

• by Paschal Uchechukwu
• April 3, 2022

Youngest Ph.D. Holders In History: Every academic guru’s goal in life is to be one of history’s top-ranked Ph.D. holders among those under the age of thirty.

Most graduates who are thinking about pursuing a postgraduate degree are undecided. This can be the consequence of additional years of education, in-depth research, and the time required to become an expert in their subject.

When it comes to choosing the correct field of study, though, it may be a challenging but rewarding process.

To help you stay motivated, we’ve produced a list of some of the most impressive Ph.D. recipients in history, all under the age of 30.

Table of Contents

• Who is a Ph.D Holder?

Ph.D. is the abbreviation of Doctor of Philosophy. To teach at the university level in most countries or to have an advanced position within one’s field of study, one must hold an advanced academic or professional degree such as this.

‘Philosophy’ is derived from the Greek term Philosophia, which means ‘”love of wisdom” in English. One who has obtained a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of contemporary society was considered to be a person with a college degree.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree still demands a love of intelligence, but it is now reserved for those who have pursued knowledge in a much more specialized discipline.

• Who are the Top 10 Youngest Ph.D. Holders In History?
• Balamurali Ambati at Age 17
• Kim Ung-Yong at Age 15
• Karl Witte at Age 13
• Akshay Venkatesh at age 20
• Erik Demaine at Age 20
• Charles Homer Haskins at Age 19
• Juliet Beni at Age 19
• Sho Yano at Age 18
• Norbert Wiener at Age 17
• Ruth Lawrence at Age 17

Balamurali Ambati – Earned Ph.D. at Age 17:

Balamurali Ambati is an Indian-born, US-based ophthalmologist. According to his parents, he was already able to do calculus at the age of four, a feat that most teenagers find challenging. At the age of 11, he co-authored a research paper on the topic of AIDS.

At the age of 13, he graduated from New York University and then went on to Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

In 1995, he graduated at the age of 17 and became the youngest doctor in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Balamural went on to complete much of the medical training he needed later in life. Until now, he has been the youngest practicing doctor in the world at the age of 24.

A number of people can benefit from his knowledge and skills today because of it. He is involved in research projects and performs sophisticated surgeries and medical treatments around the world and abroad.

With all these, he became one of the top 10 youngest Ph.D. Holders in history and in the world.

Kim Ung-Yong – Earned Ph.D. at Age 15:

Kim Ung Yong is a South Korean child prodigy who once held the Guinness Book of World Records title for the highest IQ ever achieved, with a tally of 210 points.

The Korean alphabet and 1,000 Chinese characters were reported to have been second nature to him at that age. He authored a best-selling book at the age of 3 and was already adept at solving calculus-based issues.

He was accepted into Grant High School, Los Angeles, when he was just 5 years old after impressing the school’s administration.

Aside from that, he was featured on Fuji TV in Japan and demonstrated his expertise in solving differential equations.

For his master’s degree and NASA job, he was just 8 years old. He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder to study nuclear physics. One of the youngest Ph.D. holders in history, he was just 15.

This success didn’t always bring happiness to young Ung-Young, however. Therefore, he cautions that academic excellence does not equate to success and achievement.

As  youngest person to get a Ph.D. in South Korea, he’s currently a professor at Chungbuk National University, where he can assist others realize their full potential.

Karl Witte – Earned Ph.D. at Age 13:

Karl Witte, the youngest-ever Ph.D. recipient, was born in 1800 and died in 1883, making him the record holder. He was a kid model for his father’s book, “The Training of the Child.”

It was at the age of 9 when Witte was able to communicate in several different languages.

Karl was a Ph.D. student at the University of Giessen in Germany when he was just 13 years old. Because of this, he holds the record for the world’s youngest Ph.D. holder, one that has yet to be broken.

For his studies in Italy in 1818, it is believed that he went there and became a lawyer. A love for reading led him to become an expert on Dante, an Italian poet.

Karl Witte is one of the youngest Ph.D. holders in history.

• Can you get a PhD without a master’s degree?
• Top 10+ Hardest & Easiest PhDs to get in 2022

Ruth Lawrence – Earned Ph.D. at Age 17:

Mathematical genius Ruth Lawrence, a native of England, earned an O’level and an A in pure mathematics at the tender age of 9. She is one of the youngest Ph.D. holders in the world.

In 1985, at the age of 13, she became the youngest British individual to get a first-class degree and graduate from Oxford University in modern times. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics the following year.

She earned her PhD in mathematics from Oxford University when she was 17, and went on to become a junior fellow at Harvard University when she was 19. She later rose to the rank of associate professor at the University of Michigan.

While in Israel, Ruth accepted a position as an associate professor of mathematics at the Einstein Institute for Mathematical Research at the Hebrew University.

Algebraic Topology and Knot theory are two areas in which she has made significant contributions.

Akshay Venkatesh – Earned Ph.D. at age 20:

Akshay Venkatesh, an Australian of Indian origin, was born magnificent. At the age of 11, he competed in the 24th International Physics Olympiad in Williamsburg, Virginia, and won a bronze medal.

A year after his Physics Olympiad success, he moved to mathematics and won two more medals. He finished his secondary studies at 13.

Akshay then enrolled in the University of Western Australia, where he graduated three years later, at the age of 16, with First Class Honours in Pure Mathematics.

This year’s finest graduate from the Faculties of Science, Engineering, Dentistry, and Medicine, J.A. Woods Memorial Prize.

His thirst for knowledge led him to Princeton University, where he received his Ph.D. in 2002, at the age of 20. This makes him one of the world’s youngest Ph.D.

After obtaining his Ph.D. at MIT in 2002, he became a Clay Research Fellow. He is currently a professor at Stanford University. He is a respected mathematician who has contributed to various fields of mathematics.

Charles Homer Haskins – Earned Ph.D. at Age 19:

Charles Homer Haskins is the Johns Hopkins University’s youngest-ever PhD recipient. As a child, he was a prodigy, speaking Latin and Greek with ease.

While attending Johns Hopkins University, he received his degree at the age of just 16. A few years after that, at just 19 years of age, he graduated from the same university with a PhD in physics.

At Johns Hopkins University, he was hired as a professor in 1890 before moving to Wisconsin University to teach. A graduate studies program that he created at Harvard is still being used today.

The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century, which he wrote in 1927, is widely regarded as the first medieval history book written in the United States.

Haskins may not have been enough of a professor without a smattering of politics thrown in. As a member of President Woodrow Wilson’s World War I-era committee on territorial issues, he was instrumental in helping to find solutions.

Haskins was also a member of the United States delegation to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, which was held in the city. With his solution to the German issue in mind, he presented it to the conference and it was adopted.

Juliet Beni – Earned Ph.D. at Age 19:

Juliet Beni was a senior in high school when she was just 15 years old. She earned her doctorate in psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 2012. She also graduated as the University of California’s youngest ever Ph.D. holder.

A doctor is her longtime ambition, thus she’s enrolled in the University of California, Irvine, in the Haider program in Biomedical Science to pursue that objective.

She plans to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Juliet Beni is one of the youngest Ph.D. holders in world/history.

Sho Yano – Earned Ph.D. at Age 18:

In terms of IQ, Sho Timothy Yano was considered something of a genius at the age of eight. His ability to read and write at the age of two, play the piano at the age of 4, and compose music at the age of five were all attributed to him.

When he was 8, he took the SAT , which was considered a stress test, and scored 1500 out of 1600. Upon completing his ninth grade year at the American School of Correspondence, he enrolled at Loyola University Chicago, where he received his bachelor’s degree at the age of twelve.

At the age of 18, Yano became the youngest Ph.D. holder in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Chicago.

Norbert Wiener – Earned Ph.D. at Age 17:

Norbert Wiener, a Columbian-born German great artist, was another. Math was Norbert’s father’s primary subject of instruction when he was a child.

Ayer High School and Tufts College were both his high schools of choice when he was 11 years old (now called Tufts University). After graduating from high school at the age of 14 in 1909, he received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

Norbert didn’t go on to get his master’s or doctorate right away in his chosen field of study. Before returning to mathematics, he studied biology and philosophy. In 1912, at the age of 17, he received his Ph.D. from Havard University, making him the university’s youngest ever Ph.D. holder.

A lifelong learner and adventurer, he spent time working as a journalist and contributing to the development of anti-aircraft artillery during WWII.

Finally, he was the father of cybernetics and made groundbreaking work that helped shape the field we know today.

• How old are most PhD students?

Applicants to PhD programs in OECD countries average 29 years old, with 60% of those applying being between the ages of 26 and 37. Around 25% of doctoral students in OECD countries are from outside the country.

• Is 27 too old for PhD?

There is no upper age limit for PhD students. However, most people begin at an early age.

Be aware that as competition for PhDs rises, so does the average age of those seeking them. With a little bit of practice and dedication, you should be good to go.

• Who is the youngest graduate in the world?

On the list of the world’s ten youngest professors, Michael Kearney ranks #1.

In 1994, at the age of ten, Michael Kearney graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in anthropology.

Laurent, who graduated from high school at the age of eight after just one year and a half of study, became the youngest person ever to do so.

Up until this point, despite being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), he managed to outperform every expectation, and amazed the world with his exceptional talents and intellect.

At the age of ten, he graduated from college, setting a record for the youngest college grad in the world that has not yet been broken.

Read more: How long does it take to get a Doctorate Degree?

Frequently Asked Questions about the Youngest Ph.D. Holders In History:

Can you finish Ph.D. in 3 years?

A PhD can be completed in three years, yes. These things can definitely happen, but only if you’ve got the support and persistence of a large group plus a lot of luck.

A typical PhD student will spend anything from four to eight years completing their degree.

What can you do with a PhD in history?

• Grant writer.
• Public affairs specialist.
• Research fellow.

At what age did Charles Homer Haskins earn his PhD?

He earned it at the age of 19, at Johns Hopkins University.

Conclusion:

Most graduates who consider pursuing a post-graduate degree often second-guess themselves. This can be due to extra years of schooling, research, and time spent becoming a specialist in their specialty.

Choosing the correct field of study can be a difficult, yet ultimately rewarding process.

Awesome one, I hope this article answered your question.

Share this Information.

Editor’s Recommendations:

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• Homeschool Prom (Must Read Rules)
• KBIT Test (Meaning, Breakdown, KBIT-1 and KBIT-2, Benefits)
• Akshay Venkatesh
• Balamurali Ambati
• Charles Homer Haskins
• Juliet Beni
• Kim Ung-Yong
• Norbert Wiener – Earned Ph.D. at Age 17:
• Ruth Lawrence
• youngest Ph.D. Holders in history

Paschal Uchechukwu

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain is a professional and passionate SEO writer on Education, including homeschool, college tips, high school, and travel tips. He has been writing articles for over 5 years. He is the Chief Content Officer at School & Travel. Paschal Uchechukwu Christain holds a degree in Computer Science from a reputable institution. Also, he is passionate about helping people get access to online money-making opportunities.

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Chicago teen becomes youngest person to earn doctoral degree from Arizona State

Dorothy jean tillman ii earned her associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees before she turned 17.

15-year-old graduates from the University of Nevada. Las Vegas

15-year-old Jack Rico and his mom Ru Andrade joined 'Fox & Friends' to discuss how Jack managed to obtain a Bachelor's degree at only 15 years old, showing great academic potential since early childhood

• Dorothy Jean Tillman II participated in Arizona State University's May 6 commencement, marking another milestone in her higher education journey that started at age 10.
• Throughout her journey, she obtained associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.
• At 17, Tillman became the youngest person to earn a doctoral degree at Arizona State after successfully defending her dissertation last December.

Dorothy Jean Tillman II's participation in Arizona State University's May 6 commencement was the latest step on a higher-education journey the Chicago teen started when she took her first college course at age 10.

In between came associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.

When Tillman successfully defended her dissertation in December, she became the youngest person — at age 17 — to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health at Arizona State, associate professor Leslie Manson said.

TEEN GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL

"It’s a wonderful celebration, and we hope ... that Dorothy Jean inspires more students," Manson said. "But this is still something so rare and unique."

Dorothy Jean Tillman II participates in Arizona State University’s commencement, May 6, 2024, in Tempe, Arizona. Tillman, 18, earned her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health in December at age 17 from the school. Tillman, of Chicago, began taking college courses at age 10. She earned her associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees before she turned 17. (Tillman Family via AP)

Tillman, called "Dorothy Jeanius" by family and friends, is the granddaughter of former Chicago Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman.

When most students are just learning to navigate middle school, her mother enrolled Tillman in classes through the College of Lake County in northern Illinois, where she majored in psychology and completed her associate's degree in 2016, according to her biography.

Tillman earned a bachelor's in humanities from New York's Excelsior College in 2018. About two years later, she earned her master's of science from Unity College in Maine before being accepted in 2021 into Arizona State's Behavioral Health Management Program.

Most of her classwork was done remotely and online. Tillman did attend her Arizona State commencement in person and addressed the graduating class during the ceremony.

Tillman told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she credits her grandmother and trusting in her mother's guidance for her educational pursuits and successes.

"Everything that we were doing didn't seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention," said Tillman, now 18.

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There have been sacrifices, though.

"I didn’t have the everyday school things like homecoming dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that ... that kind of create unity with my peers," she said.

She has found time to dance and do choreography. Tillman also is founder and chief executive of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. The program includes summer camps designed to help young people in the arts and STEM subjects.

She said her plans include public speaking engagements and fundraising for the camp, which Tillman said she hopes to franchise one day.

Tillman is motivated and has innovative ideas, said Manson, adding, "And truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader."

Jimalita Tillman said she is most impressed with her daughter’s ability to show herself and her successes with grace, but to also understand when to "put her foot down" when choosing between social outings and her education.

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17-Year-Old Chicago Girl Graduates with Doctoral Degree: ‘The World Is My Oyster’

"I feel like that urge to learn something new just never didn't exist for me," Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman said of her desire for education

Courtesy of Arizona State University/W Scott Mitchell

A 17-year-old from Chicago has graduated from university after achieving an enormous accomplishment — obtaining her doctoral degree.

Dorothy Jean Tillman graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) on Monday, May 6, after earning her doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health, according to Good Morning America . 

It’s the latest in a long line of educational achievements for the graduate, who started dual enrollment for high school courses at just 8-years-old before earning her associate’s degree in psychology from the College of Lake County at age 10 and her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College at age 12.

Tillman, who can now be called Dr. Tillman, told GMA that her family, and in particular her grandmother who was “part of the Civil Rights movement” had encouraged her to gain knowledge and “harped on the importance of education and consistently learning something always.” 

Courtesy Tillman Family

However, she also noted that she herself had sought out achieving her own educational goals. 

"But the way I always held education so high on my own, aside from being raised that way, was [by] finding different things to be educated about," she shared. "I feel like that urge to learn something new just never didn't exist for me."

Tillman earned her master’s degree at the age of 14, and a year later, was accepted into the Doctorate of Behavioral Health Management program at ASU. In December 2023, she successfully defended her dissertation to finally earn her doctorate’s degree — becoming the youngest person to do so at the school, per GMA .

Courtesy of Jimalita Tillman

Dr. Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at ASU, who oversaw Tillman’s dissertation, described her to the outlet as "inquisitive" and "innovative," and noted that the student’s achievement at such a young age is a big one. 

"It's a wonderful celebration ... but this is still something so rare and unique," Manson said. "She has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful, and truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader."

As for what Tillman wants to do next, she told GMA that she’s still “figuring out what my specific dreams and goals are" just like “any other teenager."

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"I'm really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that I've done so much so young," she added. "And I have time to kind of think that through."

As for what's next, the teen tells PEOPLE she's looking forward to the future, which hopefully includes plenty fundraising and partnerships for her DorothyJeanius STEAM leadership Institute .

She also hopes to pass on a very important message to kids and families.

"I want to encourage parents to pour into the dreams of their children and for children to give themselves space to pivot when needed," the graduate says, adding that it's important "not to be so locked in that they don’t get an opportunity to explore other options."

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THE 10 YOUNGEST PhD HOLDERS

How old were you/ will you be when you get your Doctoral degree? For most people, it is well into their twenties, thirties and forties going forward. But for some people, as you will see in this list, getting a Doctoral degree was not an uphill task, and they already had their first one by the time they clocked 20. Here are the youngest Doctoral degree holders:

Erik Demaine

An intriguing story is Erik’s who got his Doctoral degree at 20. Erik spent most of his childhood years touring and home-schooling under the watch of his artistic father and mother. The Canadian got his undergraduate degree at the age of 14 and finished his doctoral studies at the age of 20 with a speciality is in theory and algorithms.

Juliet Beni

Juliet completed her doctoral studies in psychology at the age of 19 from the University of California. Before then, Juliet had pursued a bachelors in the same field. She did not stop studying after getting her Doctoral degree, and she later enrolled at the university as she hopes to become a medical doctor one day.

Akshay Venkatesh

At 20, he already had his Doctoral degree, but we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let us start at the beginning when he was a young boy schooling in Australia with outstanding proficiency in Math. So good was he in school that when his counterparts were gearing to start high school, he finished by the age of 13. He joined the University as the youngest student in the history of the school and others in the country and made history by bagging the first-class honour. He started his Doctoral degree in 1998 and completed it two years later. He teaches mathematics at Stanford University.

Yano, who was born in Portland, could play classical music and read at the age of two. By the time Yano was five, he was already coming up with musical creations, and when he sat for his SAT at the age of 8, he scored 1500 out of a possible 1600. Yano was able to attend college at the age of 9, and he joined the university at a later stage. In three years, Yano was graduating as summa cum laude, and he continued his education as the Pritzker School of Medicine in Chicago. Here, he was able to earn his medical degree and doctorate at the same time, and he proceeded to work as a resident. Yano did so well that at 18, he already had his Doctoral degree and was on his way to becoming an MD.

Norbert Wiener

Norbert was a smart child who excelled in Mathematics, and his father stayed home to school him. He was able to graduate from high school at the age of 11 and joined College, where he graduated with a degree in mathematics. Norbert proceeded to Harvard University where he got his doctorate at the age of 17.

Charles Homer Haskins

Haskin was quite an impeccable man who went on to advice President Woodrow Wilson in the middle ages. As a young boy, he developed an interest in Greek and Latin, in which he became proficient before graduating from the John Hopkins University at the age of 16. He travelled to Paris and Berlin for his studies before returning to John Hopkins for his doctoral studies which he completed at the age of 19.

Balamurali Ambati

Ambati could do calculus at the age of 4, and he finished his undergrad by the time he was 11. He had completed his degree in biology by the time he was 13, and at the age of 17, he already had his medical doctorate.

Kim Ung Yong

Kim was a child prodigy who set the world record by having an IQ of 210. He could speak at six months and could do algebra by the time he was eight months. At two years, he could speak four languages and was a guest student at the Hanyang University at 3. He completed his doctorate at the Colorado State University aged 15.

Ruth Lawrence

Ruth grew up in Brighton and was a child prodigy who was excellent in mathematics. Her father quit his work as a computer consultant to home-school her when she was five. By the time Ruth was 9, she had an A-level qualification in mathematics. She proceeded to the University of Oxford and finished her degree in two years before undertaking a doctorate in mathematics which she completed at the age of 17.

Karl was the son of a pastor who encouraged him to read such that he could speak five languages at the age of 9. He got his doctorate at the age of 13 from the University of Giessen. These were quite impressive minds, don’t you agree?

• Academic careers for PhDs
• Alternative careers for PhDs
• Famous people with PhDs
• Life beyond the PhD
• Maria Konnikova
• Youngest people with PhDs

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12 brilliant kids who started college by the time they were 12

By the time most kids graduate high school, each one of these child prodigies had earned a college degree . Some were launching into university-level studies while their peers were still playing tag in elementary school.

These are the stories of 12 brilliant children who launched their academic careers at an early age. 

Michael Kearney, now 34, became the youngest college grad in history when he earned an anthropology degree at 10. He taught college classes before he could drive.

Source: New York Times , Boston.com

Jeremy Shuler began studying engineering at Cornell University in 2016, at age 12. He could read English and Korean before he was 2 years old.

Sho Yano earned his bachelor's degree at Loyola University at age 12 — and it only took him three years. Then, at 21, he earned his MD from the University of Chicago.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Alia Sabur enrolled at Stony Brook University in New York at age 10. By 19, she had a job as university professor in South Korea.

Source: BBC

At age 11, Tanishq Abraham had earned 3 associate's degrees. Now, at 14, he's a senior studying bio-engineering major at UC Davis.

Source: NBC News , ABC10

Ronan Farrow (son of actress Mia) was accepted to Bard College at Simon’s Rock at age 11, then went on to Yale Law School at 16.

He made headlines in 2017 for reporting a bombshell story that included sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Source: Bard College at Simon's Rock

At 10, Moshe Kai Cavalin was taking math classes at East Los Angeles College. By 15, he'd earned a bachelor's in math from UCLA.

Source: AP , UCLA , moshekai.com

Sujari Britt is a cellist prodigy who wrapped up her second year at the Manhattan School of Music when she was 14. She's even played for Obama at the White House.

Source: Ottowa Citizen

Erik Demaine started at Canada's Dalhousie University when he was 12, despite having no previous formal education whatsoever. He became an MIT professor in 2001.

 Source: New Scientist

Gregory Smith began studying French, calculus, and physics at Randolph-Macon College when he was 10. He went on to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times for his work in children's rights organizations.

Source: Washington Post , Huffington Post

Colin Carlson became a full-time UConn student (with majors in environmental studies, ecology, and evolutionary biology) at 12. He's now a PhD candidate at UC Berkeley.

Source: New York Times , LinkedIn

Mikaela Fudolig was the valedictorian of her class at the University of the Philippines — and she was only 16. Fudolig now has a master's and a PhD in physics and was even accepted to law school.

Source: LinkedIn , Philippines Inquirer

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10 Youngest People to Graduate College Ever

Child prodigies are always in the news for their accomplishments, especially when graduating from college while they’re still children. The youngest kids on this list graduated from college several years before they hit their teens. The others earned their degrees in their early teen years. All of them went on to earn numerous degrees. The child prodigies on this list that are now adults have successful careers as doctors, professors, and lawyers. The others who are still children have plans to continue their education and pursue work that addresses the world’s greatest issues.

10. Kathleen Holtz (c.1989 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 15 years old Graduation Year: c. 2004 School: California State University, Los Angeles Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy

In 2007, when Kathleen Holtz was 18 years old, she made headlines after she passed California’s bar exam to become the youngest lawyer in the country. Holtz started college when she was just 10 years old and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from California State University. She then entered UCLA School of Law when she was 15 and graduated three years later.

While awaiting her bar exam results, Holtz was already working as a first-year associate at TroyGould in Los Angeles. The firm had recruited her when she was only 17 years old.

Did You Know?

Kathleen Holtz tried to hide her age while attending law school and she got away with it for awhile because she looked as old as some of her peers. However, her classmates learned how young she was and unfortunately, turned on her and became hostile.

9. Erik Demaine (February 28, 1981 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 14 years old Graduation Year: 1995 School: Dalhousie University Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy

Demaine continued his education and completed his PhD at the University of Waterloo by the time he was 20 years old. After earning his PhD, Demaine joined the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), becoming the youngest professor in the school’s history. Demaine continues to teach at MIT and has earned several awards and honors for his continued research.

When he was 22 in 2003, Erik Demaine was awarded a $500,000 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius” grant. Demaine is one of the youngest recipients of the grant ever.

8. Carson Huey-You (July 2002 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 14 years old Graduation Year: 2017 School: Texas Christian University Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Physics

On May 13, 2017, Carson Huey-You became the youngest person to graduate from college in the state of Texas. Huey-You earned a bachelor’s degree in physics with a double minor in Mandarin Chinese and mathematics at the age of 14, from Texas Christian University. Two years later, Huey-You earned his master’s degree in physics from TCU. Huey-You is currently in graduate school seeking a Doctor of Philosophy focused on quantum physics.

Huey-You’s, younger brother Cannan is also a child prodigy. Cannan is currently studying at Texas Christian University as a young teenager; he is pursuing a degree in astrophysics and engineering and would like to become an astronaut.

Both Carson and Cannan Huey-You have been featured on television. In 2019, Cannan starred in MythBusters Jr., while Carson appeared as an advisor in two episodes.

7. Eugenie Carys de Silva (June 16, 1998 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 14 years old Graduation Year: 2013 School: American Military University Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Intelligence Analysis

Eugenie Carys de Silva , who is from Manchester, England, graduated from high school when she was 11 years old. After graduating high school, Carys de Silva began studying at American Military University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Intelligence Analysis at the age of 14, and she is the youngest person to do so.

While Carys de Silva was working on her degree from American Military University, she began her graduate studies at the Harvard University Division of Continuing Education when she was just 13. Continuing her simultaneous education, Carys de Silva began her Ph.D. in Politics at the University of Leicester, England when she was 15. She became the UK’S Youngest Person to Read for a Ph.D. Academic Degree.

Eugenie Carys de Silva founded the International Association of Child Prodigies to provide children an environment to pursue their educational goals.

6. Alia Sabur (February 22, 1989 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 14 years old Graduation Year: 2003 School: Stony Brook University Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics

Child prodigy, Alia Sabur graduated from Stony Brook University when she was just 14 years old. Sabur graduated summa cum laude with a degree in applied mathematics. She continued her education at Drexel University, where she earned a a master’s in materials science and engineering by the time she was 17.

On 19 February 2008, at 18 years of age (3 days before her 19th birthday), Sabur was appointed to the position of International Professor as Research Liaison with Stony Brook University by the Dept. of Advanced Technology Fusion at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. Guinness Book of World Records named Sabur as the world’s youngest professor for this achievement.

As a kid, Alia Sabur took up Taekwondo to protect herself against bullies (being a little girl in high school and college made her an easy target) and she ended up earning a black belt.

5. Gregory Robert Smith (June 9, 1989 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 13 years old Graduation Year: 2003 School: Randolph-Macon College Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics

Like many of the other young college graduates on this list, Gregory Robert Smith had shown signs of his intelligence at a very young age. Smith completed most of elementary school in one year and moved on to high school by the time he was seven. When he was 10, Smith enrolled in college where he studied advanced level physics, French and calculus. Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the age of 13.

Three years after earning his bachelor’s degree, Smith received a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Virginia. He was 16 years old at the time. In his early 20s, Smith became a postdoctoral researcher at Mount Sinai where he studies stochastic gene expression. During his last interview from 2016, Smith said he hopes to develop better cancer treatments.

In addition to his extensive studies, Gregory Robert Smith became an activist, advocating for children’s rights and safety. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times for his charity work.

4. Sho Yano (1990 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 12 years old Graduation Year: 2003 School: Loyola University Chicago Degree: Bachelor’s Degree

Sho Yano earned his first degree when he was just 12 years old. After graduating summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago, Yano entered the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine to continue his studies and work toward becoming a doctor. In 2009, when Yano was 18, he received a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and cell biology. Yano continued through medical school at the University of Chicago and graduated with his M.D. in 2012 when he was 21. Upon graduation, Yano became the second youngest M.D. in history, after Dr. Bala Ambati, who in 1995 completed his studies at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York at the age of 17.

During one of his last interviews from when he graduated with his M.D., Yano said that he wanted to become a doctor of pediatric neurology. He became interested in pediatric neurology while doing a rotation at LaRabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Sho Yano’s younger sister, Sayuri, is also a child prodigy. Sayuri graduated from Roosevelt University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in biology degree and went on to major in violin performance at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.

3. Moshe Kai Cavalin (February 14, 1998 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 11 years old Graduation Year: 2009 School: East Los Angeles Community College Degree: Associate’s Degree in Mathematics

Moshe Kai Cavalin , who will be turning 24 on Valentine’s Day this year, is another child prodigy who earned his first degree before he was teenager. In 2009, Cavalin graduated from East Los Angeles Community College with an associate’s degree in mathematics when he was just 11 years old. Cavalin continued his education at UCLA, where he received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the age of 15.

In 2015, Cavalin revealed that he was working at NASA. He was only 17 years old at the time. Cavaline was working to develop surveillance technology for airplanes and drones. Despite all of the accolades and accomplishments at such a young age, Cavalin insists that he isn’t a genius and he doesn’t like when people call him one.

Outside of his schooling, Moshe Kai Cavalin is a martial arts champion and an author. By the time he was 17, Cavalin published two books.

2. Laurent Simons (December 26, 2009 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 11 years old Graduation Year: 2021 School: University of Antwerp Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Phsyics

When he was only nine years old, Laurent Simons made international headlines because he was on his way to unseating Michael Kearney as the youngest college graduate. His parents said that he was supposed to finish his degree before his 10 th birthday. However, Eindhoven University said that this wouldn’t be possible because of the number of tests Simons needed to take. Upset by the news, Simons dropped out of Eindhoven. He then attended the University of Antwerp and earned a bachelor’s in physics in 2021 at the age of 11.

Upon graduating, Simons revealed that his next plan is to achieve immortality. Simons wants “to be able to replace as many body parts as possible with mechanical parts.” He plans to continue his studies to achieve this goal.

Laurent Simons graduated with an 85 percent, a higher distinction than all other students in his graduating class.

1. Michael Kearney (January 18, 1984 – Present)

Age at Graduation: 10 years and 4 months Graduation Year: 1994 School: The University of South Alabama Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology

Michael Kearney earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 1994 at the age of 10 years and four months, making him the youngest person to graduate college ever. Kearney had always been a child prodigy. He graduated from high school when he was just six years old. After graduating college at 10, Kearney was thrust into the spotlight. He appeared on The Tonight Show , did countless interviews, and earned a Guinness World Record for his feat.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, Kearney went on to earn a master’s degree in chemistry at Middle Tennessee State University when he was 14. Four years later, he earned master’s degree in computer science at Vanderbilt University. Kearney is currently 38 years old and hasn’t been in the public eye in over a decade.

Michael Kearney was a finalist on the trivia -and-puzzle game show Gold Rush in 2006 and he won the grand prize of $1 million.

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25-year-old Nomhle Ngwenya is the youngest and first Black woman PhD graduate at Wits University’s science faculty

African girls and women in STEM face various challenges, including limited access to resources, gender bias, and lack of representation. Still, some are beating the odds to become great in the field, contributing immensely to the advancement of science and technology. According to the World Bank , females represent 30% of students graduating from STEM fields in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nomhle Ngwenya is one the few African women inspiring young girls in Africa to pursue careers in STEM. Last year, she became the youngest Ph.D. graduate at the University of the Witwatersrand’s science faculty. At 25 years old, she also became the youngest academic to obtain a Ph.D. in science . The South African was also the first Black woman to move straight from an honours program to a Ph.D. in the history of Wits, according to News24 .

Ngwenya, who grew up wanting a career in geography, said she never imagined making history in academics. She was at the time very interested in how the environment or geography affects society and vice versa. “Geography is such a multidisciplinary subject. It’s not just climate change, but economic development, society and more. You get everything in one component. That’s why I enjoyed geography even from my high school days,” she said to News24.

Enrolling for a BA degree in sociology and geography at Wits in 2015, Ngwenya completed the degree in 2017 before moving on to pursue a bachelor of science honours degree in geography. According to News24, the specialized degree “looked at sustainability science, water science and human geography components, including environmental management and other rarely covered topics.”

And during her honours year, Ngewenya’s research topic looked at public participation and stakeholder engagement in carbon capture and storage, the outlet reported. She did very well in her research project and her supervisor, Professor Danny Simatele, was of the view that the level of work and detail which went into that honours project was beyond honours level. He subsequently recommended Ngwenya to skip master’s and go straight into a Ph.D. program that took three years to complete.

Indeed, besides her strength in academics, her supervisor who she describes as “amazing” helped her to succeed. The young female researcher said her supervisor made sure that they had deadlines and saw to it that they worked according to those deadlines. “But it also helps to have someone who understands the research process, how to conduct a thesis, the different components of compiling the thesis,” she said while encouraging undergraduate students to further their studies after earning a degree.

Being the only child, Ngwenya got a lot of support from her parents, who invested highly in her education. But she said she was never raised to always think that she is not able, or she doesn’t have the potential to be whatever she wanted to be. While most parents were buying toys for their kids, Ngwenya told Nature Africa that her father usually got her books to read while her mother installed values of perseverance and hard work.

Their guidance has helped her to triumph today as one of Africa’s young, female researchers working in the STEM field. Passionate about climate finance and climate issues in Africa, Ngwenya believes “since we are the most impacted continent, because of climate change, we need to be at the forefront in terms of coming up with innovative solutions to address the challenges that we face in our continent.”

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Discussion forum for current, past, and future students of any discipline completing post-graduate studies - taught or research.

Is 25/26 extraordinarily young to be getting a PhD?

I went straight from undergrad into my PhD. 4.5 years later I'm defending, which feels like a pretty average length to degree. Most of my classmates were around the same age as me and graduated in their mid to late twenties. It never once occurred to me that 25/26 is considered super young to be getting a PhD. Until recently I heard a group of people make comments about how insanely young that was. Some of them didn't even believe it was possible. They thought I was some prodigy. I feel like I am pretty average.

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Barron Trump and fall 2024 college: Key dates for universities he's been linked to

Trump family has ties to the university of pennsylvania and georgetown university in washington, d.c..

For  Barron Trump  and thousands of other class of  2024 high school graduates , summer is half over.

While it is not known what the immediate future holds for the sole child of  Donald and Melania Trump  and where (or if) he'll attend classes in the fall, here are key dates for the universities he's been linked to.

What high school did Barron Trump graduate from? What college will Barron Trump attend?

Barron Trump, who turned 18 on March 20, graduated from  Oxbridge Academy  near West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 17, 2024. As of Tuesday, July 9, it has not been announced where Barron Trump will attend college, and the  former first couple  has not said much.

However, Barron Trump's half-siblings — Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump (born to Donald Trump and Ivana Trump) and Tiffany Trump (born to Donald Trump and Marla Maples) — have ties to the University of Pennsylvania or Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Will Barron Trump attend University of Pennsylvania?

Donald Trump has said in the past that he believed his youngest son might follow in his footsteps by attending the University of Pennsylvania. The former president graduated and studied at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania,  graduating in May 1968  with a bachelor's degree in economics.

Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Like his father, Donald Trump Jr. has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance.

According to the University of Pennsylvania's calendar , "move-in" dates for fall 2024 are Monday, Aug. 19, to Sunday, Aug. 25, for new and returning students. "Guests" (usually parents and family) will have to be registered by Tuesday, Aug. 1, to accompany fall 2024 students on "move-in" day . New student orientation at Penn will be from Aug. 21-26, with first day of classes Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Other key dates for fall 2024 at the University of Pennsylvania include "family weekend" Oct. 25-27 and homecoming on Nov. 16.

Where did the Trump family graduate? Donald, Melania, Ivanka ... Here's a list of who graduated from college (and who didn't)

Will Barron Trump attend Georgetown University?

Another possibility for Barron Trump could be Georgetown, which has Trump ties already.

Barron Trump's older brother, Eric Trump, graduated from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor's degree in finance and management in 2006.

According to Georgetown University's calendar , arrival of new undergraduate students for fall 2024 will be Thursday and Friday, Aug. 22 and 23. Classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 28. "Parent and family weekend" will be Friday through Sunday, Oct. 18-20.

Will Barron Trump attend University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, like his sisters, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump?

According to a  March 2017 story in the Georgetown Voice , Donald Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, was a student at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., but transferred after two years to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Ivanka Trump graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics from Penn in 2004.

Like her father, Tiffany Trump attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. Four years later, Tiffany Trump graduated from Georgetown Law School as part of the class of 2020. Like many class of 2020 seniors (for high school and college), Tiffany Trump's college graduation was a virtual commencement ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Will Barron Trump attend NYU? What celebrities, famous people attended NYU?

One speculated possibility for Barron Trump is New York University. The NYU campus in Manhattan is not far from where Barron Trump spent much of his childhood — and lived until his father was sworn in as the 45th president in early 2017.

According to NYU's calendar, fall 2024 classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day. Interestingly, the school's " Legislative Monday" event is Tuesday, Oct. 15 , 2024, and " Legislative Friday" is Wednesday, Dec. 11 , 2024, the calendar states.

In case you're wondering, Barron Trump wouldn't be the only "famous" person to attend NYU: Some include Rudy Giuliani, Angelina Jolie ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith"), Lady Gaga, Chris Evans ("Captain America," "The Avengers" films, "The Gray Man"), Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock," "Beetlejuice"), Anne Hathaway ("Devil Wears Prada," "The Idea of You"), Timothée Chalamet (the "Dune" films, "Call Me by Your Name"), Adam Sandler ("Fifty First Dates," "Just Go with It"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Doctor Strange," "Wandavision") and James Franco (the "Spider-Man" films, "The Interview").

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on  Twitter  or Instagram at  @byjensangalang . Support local journalism.  Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper .

Alejandro Mayorkas: The immigrant overseeing the borders

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Before Alejandro Mayorkas became leader of the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, before unauthorized migrant crossings soared at the southern border, before House Republicans made him the first U.S. Cabinet official impeached in nearly 150 years, he was “Ali,” a Cuban immigrant whose family settled in Beverly Hills.

In 1959, Mayorkas was born in Havana to a Jewish Cuban father and a Romanian Jewish mother who survived the Holocaust. The family fled Cuba after Fidel Castro seized control.

Discover the changemakers who are shaping every cultural corner of Los Angeles. This week we bring you the final installment of the L.A. Influential series: The Establishment. They are the bosses, elected officials and A-list names calling the shots from the seats of power.

After graduating from Beverly Hills High School and attending UC Berkeley and Loyola Law School, Mayorkas became the country’s youngest U.S. attorney. He was based in Los Angeles, where more than one in three people are immigrants.

In 2009, then-President Obama appointed Mayorkas director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where he implemented Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, the program that extended deportation protections to young immigrants.

He went on to become deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, leading the agency’s response to the Ebola and Zika viruses, cybersecurity negotiations with Israel and China, and talks with the Cuban government on import security and travel.

He has overseen a historic expansion of temporary immigration protections, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people.

Mayorkas was confirmed as the first immigrant and Latino Homeland Security secretary shortly after President Biden took office, taking over a department roiled by leadership turnover and low morale.

Unprecedented migration has since strained resources and caused an unending political dilemma. In 2021, a photo appearing to show a horse-mounted Border Patrol agent whipping Haitian migrants sparked outrage. Mayorkas initially defended the agent’s actions, but later an investigation into them was opened by Customs and Border Protection, prompting conservatives to call for his impeachment.

Those calls grew with frustration over the administration’s handling of the U.S-Mexico border, though critics said disagreement over policy wasn’t an impeachable offense. In February, Republicans succeeded in the House, but, in April, failed in the Senate .

Beyond immigration, Mayorkas, 64, has prioritized addressing the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as well as countering domestic terrorism.

He has overseen a historic expansion of temporary immigration protections , welcoming hundreds of thousands of people, including from countries such as Afghanistan, Venezuela and Ukraine. The most recent program , protecting more than 500,000 immigrant spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens, is the largest immigration initiative since DACA.

He also oversaw implementation of a Trump-era border barrier expansion , restarted deportations to Cuba and sent thousands back to Haiti amid a political crisis . Last year, DHS ended a Trump-era border policy used to turn away asylum-seekers that Mayorkas had publicly criticized but relied upon to control the situation at the border.

Amid growing political pressure — including from Democratic leaders — to reduce the number of migrants allowed into the U.S. as cities struggle to shelter them, Mayorkas’ agency recently began restricting asylum access when border crossings are high.

More to Read

News Analysis: Why Biden’s order on the ‘out of control’ border may not fix Democrats’ political problem

June 6, 2024

Photos: A visual report from the border following President Biden’s rollout of asylum restrictions

Senate rejects impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

April 17, 2024

Andrea Castillo covers immigration. Before joining the Los Angeles Times, she covered immigrant, ethnic and LGBTQ+ communities for the Fresno Bee. She got her start at the Oregonian in Portland. A native of Seattle, she’s been making her way down the West Coast since her graduation from Washington State University.

Christina House is a staff photojournalist with the Los Angeles Times. She officially joined the visual journalism team in 2017 after 10 years as a freelance photographer. House grew up in Long Beach and is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. Her love for photography started when she visited the Philippines, her mother’s native country, at age 7. That unforgettable experience inspired her to pick up a camera. House won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography and the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Domestic Photography for “Hollywood’s Finest,” an intimate look into the life of a pregnant 22-year-old woman living on the street. She received the 2021 Cliff Edom New America Award and was honored in the portrait series category for her work on “Game Changers: A Celebration of Women in Sports” from the 2021 National Press Photographers Assn.’s Best of Photojournalism awards.

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NBA Summer League spotlights Clippers’ need to develop young players like Cam Christie

While the LA Clippers have the outline of a team that should be in the middle of the 2025 Western Conference standings , they needed to bolster the developmental corps . The first opportunity to do that came in the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Clippers selected one of the youngest prospects available in Minnesota small forward Cam Christie with the 46th pick.

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Christie won’t turn 19 until after the Las Vegas Summer League that begins Friday for the Clippers, and he is signed to a four-year deal using the second-round pick exception. He needs all the time he can get. At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Christie needs to add strength to his frame to be effective on both ends of the floor. Christie is billed as a shooter, but his growth areas include being better as a playmaker and as a finisher.

The encouraging sign early on is that Christie knows this. He is the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Max Christie , who just re-signed to a four-year contract after being a 2022 second-round pick out of Michigan State. And the Clippers are encouraging Christie to be himself.

“I am 18, I’m super young compared to a lot of other guys on the team or in the league,” Christie said Sunday. “But I’m not letting that deter me. I’m just staying confident in who I am, knowing that I’m a great shooter and knowing that I’m just a good basketball player in general, and just kind of being comfortable with who I am.”

Christie represents an interesting pivot point in where the Clippers are from a developmental standpoint. He’s the only drafted rookie, but he isn’t exactly the present. He’s the future of the Clippers, and he provides insight into the past.

Now what? How the Clippers will navigate the post-Paul George era

I mentioned last month that Christie has the same dimensions as Joshua Primo, a 2021 lottery pick by the San Antonio Spurs whom the Clippers spent just over six months trying to develop before he was injured and then waived to make room for Kai Jones in April. But on this roster, Christie is the new version of Brandon Boston Jr. In a way, Boston provides Christie (and the Clippers) a cautionary tale.

The Clippers had the NBA ’s oldest roster last season for the third time in eight seasons. They retained Kawhi Leonard and James Harden but parted ways with Paul George to end the 213 era . In 2017, when the Clippers elevated Lawrence Frank to president of basketball operations, they started the process of moving on from the Lob City era led by Chris Paul , Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan . In 2021, the Clippers were coming off of the franchise’s only conference finals appearance but had to prepare for a season without Leonard due to surgery to repair a torn ACL.

Boston was one of the Clippers’ three draft picks in 2021. He lasted the longest and showed promise with his scoring ability despite turning 20 during his rookie season. Boston improved enough behind the scenes in his second season to earn a graduation from summer league last year, which wasn’t the case for fellow 2021 second-round pick Jason Preston .

But Boston’s third season saw his development stall, as his momentum toward a rotation spot was interrupted in training camp by left quadriceps tendinopathy and he struggled to make shots or make the right play in the rare instances when he got minutes. The Clippers declined to make Boston a restricted free agent, and he will not return for a fourth season; the team’s only draft pick selected after Blake Griffin in 2009 to play a fourth season with the franchise has been Terance Mann , a second-rounder in 2019 who is still on the roster. (An honorable mention goes to Amir Coffey , who also finished his fifth season with the Clippers after being undrafted in 2019 out of Minnesota.)

Like Boston, 2021 first-round pick Keon Johnson was a one-and-done wing, selected 21st. Johnson lasted 135 minutes with the Clippers before getting thrown in a trade that brought Norman Powell and Robert Covington to LA in February 2022. Johnson will be in summer league against the Clippers as a member of the Brooklyn Nets , whom Johnson played with last season on a two-way contract. Preston will be in summer league with the Utah Jazz , whom Preston finished last season with on a two-way contract.

“I’m going to try to learn as much as I can from them” -Cam Christie on having Kawhi & James as teammates pic.twitter.com/6cAiCiHJDZ — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 8, 2024

While Christie is on an expanded timeline, the clock ticks a bit louder for 2023 picks Kobe Brown and Jordan Miller . Frank mentioned both as players he was looking forward to seeing this summer, and those three join Christie as featured players on a summer league roster coached by assistant Dahntay Jones.

Brown, the 30th pick last year, is the only first-rounder on LA’s summer roster. Brown, who turns 25 on New Year’s Day, only got a combined 12 possessions last year as a scorer in isolation, post-ups, and out of ball screens, per Synergy. He attempted only two free throws in 394 minutes as a rookie. The only players who attempted two free throws or fewer last season while playing more minutes than Brown were 40 percent 3-point shooters Jacob Gilyard (two free throws in 699 minutes) and Reggie Bullock (one free throw in 417 minutes); Brown shot only 29.2 percent from 3 as a rookie.

With Leonard’s durability concerns and the advanced age of 16-year veteran Nicolas Batum , Brown has an opportunity to be a part of the rotation at power forward. He has to show that he can make the right decisions on the ball, be more aggressive in using his 250-pound frame, make shots, and defend without fouling.

“We’re not the biggest team, but we’re going to be one of the faster teams, be able to hit shots,” Brown said Sunday. “Everybody can play, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Miller expressed to  The Athletic in January that he wants “a chance to earn rotation minutes” even though he is on a two-way contract that extends into his second season. Like Brown, Miller will be 25 next January. The 48th pick in the 2023 draft, Miller doesn’t have the benefit of time like Christie to change his body as part of reaching his potential. Miller is listed at 6-foot-5, 194 pounds despite playing power forward at the University of Miami, and while his 7-foot wingspan allows him to guard up a position or two, the Clippers are trying to get him more comfortable with the ball in his hands. Dahntay Jones also wants Miller to make a strong impact defensively this summer while teaching him how to “magnify our current set of talent.”

“Jordan has a bright future, and Jordan works extremely hard,” Jones said. “I’m going to challenge him defensively to guard a lot of different positions. Challenge him on defense how to play harder than he’s ever had to play before, try to put him in different positions to show how good of a basketball player he is.”

While Miller is still on a two-way contract, the same can’t be said for 2022 second-round pick Moussa Diabaté, who was not given a qualifying offer and is an unrestricted free agent. Despite that, Diabaté will not only be with the Clippers for summer league, but he is also the only true center on the roster.

Frank mentioned Diabaté, Brown, Miller and Kai Jones as players he wants to put “pressure on the coaching staff to get in the rotation.” Kai Jones would have been on the summer league roster, but he has an ankle injury. While he remains in the Clippers’ plans and will be signed to a non-guaranteed minimum contract to compete for a spot in training camp, Diabaté will get the majority of the reps at center this month.

Christie, Brown, Miller and Diabaté should be four of the five summer league starters. The fifth spot is up for grabs, and the Clippers have four players on the roster who could be point guard options:

• RayJ Dennis, an undrafted rookie out of Baylor who was the 2023 MAC Player of the Year at Toledo and a 2024 All-Big-12 selection
• Elijah Harkless, who played for the Ontario Clippers in the G League last season
• Trevor Hudgins, who spent the 2022-23 season on a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets
• Amari Bailey, the 41st pick of the 2023 draft and a former Sierra Canyon and UCLA product

While I believe Dennis is the favorite to start since he is the best pure passer of the group, all four guards can make a case to get a look. Harkless is arguably the strongest defender, while Hudgins is arguably the best shooter. But Bailey was a top-10 recruit going into UCLA and arguably has the biggest upside since he won’t be 21 until next February. The only developmental point guard on the roster is former Nuggets 2021 first-round pick Bones Hyland , who would have welcomed a trade in February and is questionable at best to return to the Clippers for the last season of his rookie contract. Bailey in particular has a chance to make a case for an extended look as a potential two-way contract addition.

“He can play multiple positions, he can guard multiple positions,” Dahntay Jones said of Bailey, who only played 65 minutes as a rookie with the Charlotte Hornets . “He has another level to himself, and he has to believe in that. We believe in him. We’re gonna put him in different positions to highlight his talents on the ball, off the ball. Defensively, we’re going to challenge him to try to be a menace out there, and I think he’s capable of doing that.”

Undrafted rookie teenage small forward Trentyn Flowers from the Adelaide 36ers, Australian power forward Josh Bannan out of Montana and 6-foot-4 NBA veteran Terry Taylor round out the initial summer league roster. Wins and losses won’t be the primary item to judge summer league play on, an event that will have plenty of bad shots and bad decisions. The Clippers won’t have the most talent or size, but Dahntay Jones is looking to have his young group play the right way and with the right energy.

“They’re going to make mistakes, but we just have to just work with them and just try and be as positive as possible,” Jones said. “What we do this summer is going to be the base of what our basketball team is going to be based around. And that’s playing hard defensively, communicating, and then making each other better. Bringing positive energy on a daily basis.”

(Photo of Kobe Brown: Harry How / Getty Images)

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Law Murray is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the LA Clippers. Prior to joining The Athletic, he was an NBA editor at ESPN, a researcher at NFL Media and a contributor to DrewLeague.com and ClipperBlog. Law is from Philadelphia, Pa., and is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California. Follow Law on Twitter @ LawMurrayTheNU