Child prodigy Dorothy Jean Tillman finishes degree at Unity College through Distance Education
Like any student pursuing a master鈥檚 degree, Dorothy Jean Tillman wanted to visit Unity College鈥檚 campus, even though she鈥檚 earning her degree through the College鈥檚 program. And, like any student, when she made the trek to Maine with her family, she toured the facility, chatted in person with the staff she had gotten to know online, and even got to meet .
But Dorothy Jean, who resides in Chicago鈥檚 South Side, isn鈥檛 just any student. She is a 13-year-old prodigy who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree from Excelsior College in New York, and is now completing her Master鈥檚 in
鈥淚 believe I was put here to help people,鈥� Dorothy said while talking with Dr. Khoury. 鈥淎nd the path I鈥檓 going down, I could see so many ways I can use the resources and connections I have now to help people.鈥�
And Dorothy has plenty of resources and connections. Not only has she made frequent appearances on Chicago newscasts, she was also recently spotlighted at the BET Awards, and had an article about her on Vibe Magazine鈥檚 website after she received her bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淒orothy Jean鈥檚 story is unique and inspiring, and we were thrilled when she decided that, of all the master鈥檚 programs she could have enrolled in, she chose Unity College,鈥� said Dr. Khoury. 鈥淚t is my hope that she continues to spread the message about sustainability science not only to her friends and peers in Chicago, but also to those all around the world who are taking note of the work she has put into her education.鈥�
鈥淭hey just made learning so approachable,鈥� Dorothy Jean said of the online faculty. 鈥淥ne thing for me is I like to control my own schedule, and the schedule that works for me may not work for somebody else.鈥�
鈥淒istance Education has opened up so many doors for us as an institution, and for students all over the world,鈥� said Unity College鈥檚 Vice President of Distance Education Dr. Amy Arnett. 鈥淣ow, we can not only reach people wherever they are, but whenever they鈥檙e ready to take that next step in their education, whether they鈥檙e 13 years old or 113.鈥�
Although she is a prodigy, Dorothy Jean is also still a 13-year-old, enjoying social media, painting, photography, and hanging out with her friends. She even mixes her art with her love of the environment.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 like taking two things you love and putting them together,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like putting macaroni on pizza, or putting peanut butter and jelly together.鈥�
Education, however, remains her priority. While she does want to take a little time off after earning her master鈥檚 before moving into a PhD program, Dorothy Jean鈥檚 idea of 鈥渢ime off鈥� isn鈥檛 just kicking back and resting on her laurels. Instead, she hopes to travel a bit and continue to study the environment while she does so.
