Nathan Thomas, 18, becomes world's youngest male professor

Eighteen-year-old American engineer and educator Nathan Thomas has officially become the world's youngest male professor, according to Guinness World Records. Thomas set the record on August 2023 when he joined the faculty of Miami Dade College at 18 years and 346 days old, surpassing a record held for over three centuries.

His achievement breaks the previous record set by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who became a professor at age 19 in 1717. Thomas's academic journey began exceptionally early; he enrolled in college through a dual-enrolment program at just 10 years old and later transferred to Florida International University at 14. By the age of 18, he had already completed both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering with honors.

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Once you’re in that setting, everyone’s there for the same reason, which is to learn. Age doesn’t really factor into that. I just focus on trying to do my job well and helping students in whatever way I can. If someone’s willing to put in the effort, that’s really all that matters to me.

Thomas's first teaching experience involved instructing students who were often close to his own age. He views age as irrelevant in the learning environment, stating, "Once you’re in that setting, everyone’s there for the same reason, which is to learn. Age doesn’t really factor into that." He focuses on performing his job well and assisting students, emphasizing that effort is the key factor.

His passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) was nurtured from a young age, influenced by his parents, both of whom are engineers. He specifically credits his mother for her ability to simplify complex concepts, a skill that he believes has influenced his own approach to teaching and learning.

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My mom had a way of making things feel simple even when they weren’t, and I think some of that stuck with me more than I realized at the time.