Nathan Thomas, an American educator and engineer, shattered a 306-year-old record by securing a faculty position at his former college before turning 19. Born on September 9, 2004, Thomas began teaching computer science at Miami Dade College in August 2023 at the age of 18 years and 346 days, establishing him as the youngest male professor in recorded history.
This achievement surpassed the longstanding mark set by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin in 1717, who was 19 at the time of his appointment. Thomas was also narrowly younger than Alia Sabur, who held the record for the youngest female professor at 18 years and 362 days upon her appointment in 2008.
Thomas’s academic journey was exceptionally rapid. He began dual-enrollment at Miami Dade College at 10 and moved to Florida International University by 14. By age 18, he had secured both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering with honors. He noted that teaching students of his own age feels natural because they are all focused on the shared goal of education.
His parents, who are both engineers, fostered his early interest in problem-solving. Thomas currently balances his teaching duties with his pursuit of a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Miami School of Law, with plans to practice intellectual property law. Outside of his professional life, he remains a typical young adult who enjoys sports, playing piano, and listening to music.
Reflecting on his journey, Thomas advises against comparing personal progress to the timelines of others, emphasizing that persistence and finding one’s own path are the true keys to success.
