BREAKING: Don Blakey's degree is from a certified 'diploma mill'

According to The News Journal, Republican Levy Court Commissioner Don Blakey received his "PhD" from a government-declared "diploma mill."

In plain English, he paid about two grand to have the letters "PhD" next to his name:

Kent County Levy Court Commissioner Donald A. Blakey’s doctoral degree from an institution labeled a diploma mill by congressional investigators has become an issue in Blakey’s race for the 34th District House seat against Democrat M. Jeanine Kleimo...

...In 1998, Blakey decided to pursue a doctorate in theater arts from Pacific Western where, according to congressional testimony, academic degrees could be purchased for virtually no course work. Pacific Western no longer offers doctoral degrees but still offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees that are not recognized by most academic organizations.

What is Development Don's explanation?

“The degree is really based on my past experiences in these fields,” Blakey said Tuesday. Instead of a dissertation, Blakey had to write a play and have it produced -- he chose the Tuskegee Airmen as his subject, and he produced the play on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

There it is. He wrote a play and got a PhD. And according to a San Diego Tribune article on diploma mills, he is basically admitting that's what it is (emphasis added):

The Government Accountability Office defines diploma mills as "nontraditional, unaccredited, postsecondary schools that offer degrees for a relatively low flat fee, promote the award of academic credits based on life experience, and do not require any classroom instruction."

I really should look into this Pacific Western University...A quick web search reveals some telling things...

Pacific Western University has never been accredited by any of the nationally recognized accrediting agencies in the United States.

Because Pacific Western is not accredited by any regional accreditation organization approved by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation[1] the school’s degrees have been ruled as inadequate credentials for certain jobs by state officials in New Jersey and Michigan. Several other states have laws specifically prohibiting the use of unaccredited degrees in seeking civil service employment; Washington makes the use of such a degree a gross misdemeanor.”

Hmm...one may think that running for higher office constitutes a 'civil service,' no?

The Kent County Levy Court's website says "The Levy Court is the highest executive power that exists in Kent County..." It's being run by someone who's highest educational achievement is a sham.

Do what Don Blakey's web profile says: email "Don Blakey, PhD." Tell him what you think of his 'advanced coursework' at a government-declared diploma mill.

...and then ask him for 2-grand so you can get your doctorate, too.


--ASM
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UPDATE 1: For those who are curious, we present Jeanine Kleimo's educational background:

• 1988 M.A., Development Banking, The American University, Washington DC
• 1986-87 Fulbright Scholar, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore
• 1975 B.A., Economics/International Relations, The American University

No diploma mills here...