Tessa Embry is not your average teenager. She is a prodigy who has achieved what most people can only dream of: earning a PhD degree at the age of 17. Tessa recently graduated from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a doctorate in Aviation Psychology, making her one of the youngest-ever PhD holders in the United States.

How did she do it?

Tessa’s academic journey began when she was just six years old, when she started reading and understanding college materials on topics such as consciousness, dreams, and neuroscience. She was homeschooled by her mother, who recognized her exceptional abilities and encouraged her to pursue her interests.

By the age of 11, Tessa had earned her high school diploma from Lake County College in Illinois. She then enrolled in Chicago University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at 14. She followed that with a master’s degree in business administration at 15, and then applied for a PhD program in aviation psychology at Capella University.

Tessa chose aviation psychology because she is fascinated by the human factors that affect the performance and safety of pilots and air traffic controllers. She is also a licensed pilot herself, and enjoys flying as a hobby. She said that her dissertation focused on “the effects of fatigue on cognitive abilities and decision making in aviation”.

What are her plans for the future?

Tessa is not planning to stop learning anytime soon. She said that she wants to continue her research and contribute to the field of aviation psychology. She also hopes to inspire other young people to pursue their passions and achieve their goals.

“I want to show them that anything is possible if you work hard and have a supportive environment,” she said.

Tessa is also an author, having published two books: “The Power of Dreams” and “The Secrets of Success”. She said that she enjoys writing as a way of expressing herself and sharing her knowledge with others.

How rare is it to earn a PhD at such a young age?

According to the National Science Foundation, the average age of PhD recipients in the US in 2020 was 31.7 years. Only 0.2% of PhD recipients were under the age of 25, and only 0.01% were under the age of 20.

Tessa is among the few exceptional cases of young PhD holders in history. Some notable examples include:

• Ruth Lawrence, who earned her PhD in mathematics from Oxford University at 20 in 1989.
• Akshay Venkatesh, who earned his PhD in mathematics from Princeton University at 20 in 2002.
• Erik Demaine, who earned his PhD in computer science from the University of Waterloo at 20 in 2001.
• Alia Sabur, who earned her PhD in materials science and engineering from Drexel University at 19 in 2008.
• Sho Yano, who earned his PhD in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago at 18 in 2009.

How can we congratulate her?

Tessa’s achievement has been widely celebrated on social media, where many people have expressed their admiration and congratulations.

We wish Tessa all the best for her future endeavors!

In the world of academia, where achievements are often measured by years of dedicated study, Ruth Ama Gyan-Darkwa, a young mathematics genius from Ghana, stands as a remarkable exception. Breaking barriers and setting records, Ruth has not only earned her place in history as the youngest person in Ghana to obtain a Bachelor’s degree at the age of 17 but has now been accepted into a Ph.D. program at New Mexico University at just 18 years old.

Born on May 29, 2004, to Mr. and Mrs. Kwadwo Gyan Darkwa in Ghana, Ruth’s journey to academic excellence began under the guidance of her father, a mathematics and physics teacher at Prempeh College. Mr. Gyan-Darkwa, recognizing the value of a strong education, homeschooled Ruth and her siblings to ensure they had the best possible learning environment.

Ruth’s academic journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Enrolling at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) at the tender age of 13, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Despite the challenges posed by the technicalities of mathematics, Ruth graduated with Second-Class honors, earning her the title of the youngest graduate in the university’s history.

Her achievements did not stop there. At the age of 18, Ruth has set foot in the United States, joining the University of New Mexico’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for a Ph.D. program. Specializing in Electrical Engineering with a research focus on optics and lasers, she collaborates with the Center for High Technology Materials in New Mexico, showcasing her prowess in cutting-edge research.