Nathan Thomas returned to his former college in August 2023 not as a student, but as its newest professor at just 18 years and 346 days old.
The American engineer and educator walked into a computer science classroom at Miami Dade College with students his own age, becoming the youngest male professor in recorded history. He broke a record that had stood for more than 300 years.
Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin previously held the title, appointed to a professorship in 1717 at age 19. His record lasted 306 years. Thomas also edged out Alia Sabur, the American engineer who became the youngest female professor in 2008 at 18 years and 362 days, by 16 days.
Born September 9, 2004, Thomas dual-enrolled at Miami Dade College at age 10 and transferred to Florida International University at 14. By 18, he held both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering, graduating with honors in each. He then returned to Miami Dade as a faculty member.
Thomas said teaching students who are sometimes his own age or older does not feel unusual, since everyone in the room shares the same goal: learning. He said his focus stays on doing his job well and supporting students who put in the work.
He credits his parents, both engineers, with shaping his early interest in mathematics and structured problem-solving. He has said teaching pushes him to understand material more deeply, likening the moment a concept clicks for a student to reliving his own breakthrough.
Thomas is not done with school himself. He is now pursuing a Juris Doctor at the University of Miami School of Law, expected to graduate in 2028, while still teaching online courses. He plans to practice intellectual property law with a focus on STEM fields, saying the problem-solving skills from engineering have carried directly into his legal studies.
Outside the classroom, Thomas says he lives like a typical 21-year-old. He plays basketball, tennis and golf, follows the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots, and plays classical piano — though he’s more often found listening to Drake or house music.
On his accelerated path, Thomas said comparing personal timelines to other people’s can work against you. He encouraged others to find what works for them and stick with it, trusting that results come with persistence.
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