The Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University has come under scrutiny, and so has the plethora of honorary doctorate degrees it has awarded over the years. Trina, Tyrese, Yung Joc, Towanda Braxton, Cynthia Bailey, and Trick Daddy are just some of the celebrities who have received honorary degrees from the institution.
But are they legit?
Now, The Shade Room’s Justin Carter is delving into the question and getting some answers, speaking to bible university’s founder, Dr. Verna Caddie, on ‘TSR Investigates.’
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Are The Celebrity Honorary Doctorate Degrees From The Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University A Scam?
According to Carter, the Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University is an online institution “where students discover and grow in their God-given gifts and callings.” Furthermore, the school’s website notes that students can obtain Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. However, when Gladys Muturi dug into LECU, she ended up with questions rather than answers.
“I found a photo of the building, but it doesn’t look like a university building. It looked like an office building,” she told Carter. “[On the website] there was a donation page where you can donate $150-$3,000.”
Like Muturi, content creator Robert Coleman was questioning the validity of the school and its honorary degrees.
“When I see people like Trick Daddy, or Yung Joc, or a Cynthia Bailey — it’s just like, what have you done that’s significant for you to receive this type of award?” Coleman explained.
More On The Celebrity Honorary Doctorate Degrees
At that point, Carter noted the question of whether the school was using celebrity attendance to sell graduation tickets and earn money. Additionally, he also noted that the thought of whether the institution is seeking to prey on those interested in the “doctor” title.
Scroll above to watch as Carter speaks to Dr. Verna Caddie about the skepticism surrounding the school and its honorary doctorate degrees. Dr. Caddie shared her educational credentials and the inspiration behind founding LECU. Additionally, Carter shares what he learned after looking into whether the school is registered with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and his overall conversation with Dr. Caddie.
