American teenager Nathan Thomas has been entered into the Guinness World Records as the youngest male professor in history, a milestone confirmed on July 27, 2026.
Record‑breaking appointment at Miami Dade College
Thomas joined the faculty of Miami Dade College at 18 years and 346 days old, taking a position teaching engineering students in the course COP 2270: C for Engineers. The record previously belonged to Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who became a professor in 1717 at age 19, a title that endured for 306 years.
When he entered the classroom in August 2023, he found a cohort of learners close to his own age. He led them through computing and programming topics that he had mastered only months earlier. “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 told Guinness World Records. He added, “I just focus on trying to do my job well and helping students in whatever way I can.”
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Accelerated education and early achievements
Thomas began dual‑enrollment at Miami Dade College at age 10, later earning an associate degree in mathematics. That made him the college’s youngest graduate at the time, a record that stood until his brother Noah Thomas broke it in April 2025 by graduating three months earlier.
By the time he turned 18, he had completed both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, each with honors, after transferring to Florida International University at 14. He now pursues a Juris Doctor at the University of Miami School of Law, with an expected graduation in 2028, and is listed as a co‑author on a research project at the college’s Kendall Campus.
Beyond the novelty of age, his trajectory shows how early, sustained study can produce advanced expertise. The pathway he followed—starting with dual‑enrollment, moving through associate, bachelor’s, and master’s programs—demonstrates that unconventional timelines can still align with traditional academic milestones. This pattern may encourage institutions to consider flexible admission policies that accommodate highly motivated younger students.
Dean Manny Perez of the School of Engineering, Technology & Design praised the addition. “I am proud to have him as part of our staff. I think anytime you have the opportunity to meet a person like Nathan, you realize that there is someone special…someone who can serve as an inspiration to our students.”
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His story also highlights the gender‑specific nature of the record. He is 16 days younger than Alia Sabur, who holds the title of youngest female professor, achieved in 2008 at 18 years and 362 days. The two records remain separate, reflecting the distinct categories used by Guinness.
Thomas attributes his early interest in mathematics to his upbringing; both parents work as engineers, providing a constant backdrop of problem‑solving and analytical thinking. He says mathematics was the first subject that “clicked,” steering him toward a career in STEM.
His appointment adds a new chapter to a lineage of prodigious scholars, but it also raises practical questions for institutions about mentorship, classroom trends, and the balance between teaching responsibilities and ongoing research. He continues to teach while contributing to research, suggesting that his role may evolve as he completes his law degree.