Canton’s Jerome West Earns 7 College Degrees After 30 Ds
A Journey of Resilience and Academic Achievement
Jerome West’s life story is a testament to the power of perseverance, discipline, and the belief that early academic struggles do not define one’s future. From his humble beginnings in Canton, Ohio, to earning seven degrees and becoming a leader in healthcare administration, West has redefined what it means to overcome obstacles.
West graduated from McKinley High School in 1999, finishing in the bottom 10% of his class. He recalls having 30 Ds and a GPA of just 1.6. “I don’t know how I graduated,” he said with a laugh. Despite this rocky start, West took five years to earn a two-year degree from Stark State College, followed by a bachelor’s degree from Malone University in 2008. In 2025, at the age of 44, he earned a doctorate in healthcare administration from Oklahoma State University. He expects to receive his seventh degree, a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, in August.
“This journey is not about the accumulation of credentials; rather, it reflects the reality that early academic performance does not determine long-term potential,” West said. “I never set out to earn seven degrees. It was never about chasing a number. It happened one step at a time as I continued to grow, prepare, and refuse to quit.”
Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose
West’s path was not easy, but he credits his success to a deep sense of purpose and the support of mentors who believed in him. As the son of a single mother within a close-knit, extended family, he grew up in an environment where higher education was not always seen as attainable. However, West found motivation in the stories of those around him and the belief that anything is possible with structure, discipline, and consistency.
At 35, West was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “I had to figure out how my brain works,” he said. “There’s a stigma that covers ADHD. ‘He’s bad, or he’s acting out.’ No, he just doesn’t know how he learns, and no one’s sat down with him and taught him how his brain works. Once I mastered how my brain worked, I learned how to leverage that hyperfocus.”
West also cited research showing that students with ADHD often face academic barriers in higher education, including lower GPA trends, weaker study and organizational skills, and lower persistence. He emphasized the importance of structured support and effective interventions in improving outcomes for students with ADHD.
Mentors Who Shaped His Path
Two key figures in West’s life were Sandy Womack and Maquitta Stokes. Womack, a former Canton City Schools educator and administrator, first met West in the sixth or seventh grade. “He sat me down and said, ‘Make me a promise: You’re going to college.’ I looked at him like he was crazy,” West recalled. “I was like, ‘I don’t even like school. I hate school.’”
Despite his initial reluctance, West kept his promise to Womack. “The greatest thing in the world was, I called him and said, ‘Guess what? Remember that promise I made you 20-plus years ago?’ I’m proof that anything is possible with structure, discipline and consistency.”
Stokes, a former intervention specialist with Canton City Schools, played a crucial role in helping West develop strategies for learning. “She sat me down and she said, ‘You don’t learn like everybody else.’” West said. Stokes taught him how to tackle research papers using a process called “chunking,” which involves breaking down information into small, manageable segments.
A Commitment to Education and Community
West’s dedication to education extends beyond his own achievements. He has worked to create opportunities for Black youth, particularly boys, through enrichment programs and mentorship initiatives. Prior to leaving Canton in 2018, he partnered with psychologist Sylvester Huston to develop a program aimed at supporting Black boys in the community. “There were some kids who made progress,” he said. “I had one kid who was autistic; he went to Marshall University. Another kid I worked with went into the Navy.”
West also emphasizes the importance of mental health and the need for more culturally competent care. “Medication alone doesn’t work. Sometimes you need somebody to walk along on that journey.”
A Leader in Healthcare and Beyond
Today, West works as a health coach and director of MetroHealth Medical System’s nicotine addiction program in Cleveland. “Cleveland has the highest smoking rate in the country. Thirty-five percent of the population smokes,” he said. “I created this program out of the need to address it. We look at nicotine addiction like any other driver, like alcohol, and we address it through the addiction-disease model.”
In 2022, West also tackled another personal challenge—obesity. “I was talking to a client about smoking and I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘How can I tell him to change his life, and I’m not changing mine?'” He underwent a gastric bypass in 2023 and lost 270 pounds while pursuing two simultaneous master’s programs.
West’s ultimate goal is to foster more African Americans in C-suite leadership roles. “Less than 2% of hospital leadership is brown or Black,” he said. “So, when I look at the behavioral health system and we’re told we’re going to talk about how cultural representation matters, until there’s enough of us at the top who can help make those decisions, there will be no changes.”
Jerome West’s Degrees
Here is a list of Jerome West’s degrees:
- Doctor of Healthcare Administration, Oklahoma State University, 2025
- Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, Western Governors University, 2024
- Master of Arts in Religion with Emphasis in Pastoral Counseling, Liberty University, 2020
- Master of Religious Education, Liberty University, 2020
- Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management, Malone University, 2008
- Associate of Applied Science in Human and Social Services, Stark State College, 2005
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Winebrenner Theological Seminary (expected completion in August)
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