Nathan Thomas, who lives in Florida, officially became the youngest professor in recorded history at the age of 18. He started teaching engineering at Miami-Dade College in 2023. This achievement allowed him to set a new world record, surpassing that of Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who received a professorship at the age of 19 at the beginning of the 18th century. The previous record remained unbeaten for 306 years.

Thomas' academic path is characterized by accelerated completion of the learning stages compared to the standard educational trajectory. He first enrolled at Miami-Dade College under the dual enrollment program when he was 10 years old. At the age of 14, he transferred to Florida International University to continue his in-depth study of technical disciplines. By the time he reached the age of 18, when most of his peers were just starting higher education, Thomas had already earned bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering, both of which were awarded with honors. According to official data from the Guinness Book of World Records, Thomas took up the position of professor at the age of 18 years and 346 days, making him the youngest male professor in history. In addition, he is 16 days younger than Alia Sabour, who set the record for the youngest female professor in the world in 2008 at the age of 18 years and 362 days.

In an interview with representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records, Thomas noted that age is not a determining factor in the educational process. According to him, all participants in the educational process are in the classroom with a single goal – to gain knowledge and professional skills. He emphasized that he focuses on the high-quality performance of his professional duties and providing methodological support to students who demonstrate a willingness to make efforts to master the educational material. Nathan Thomas currently teaches online engineering courses for college students. In parallel with his teaching activities, he continues his academic development, studying under the program of the Faculty of Law. Completion of a law degree is scheduled for 2028.