‘Christian’ U that awarded PhD to Chris Brown ordered by Texas agency to stop offering degrees, using term ‘university’

DALLAS — Singer Chris Brown made headlines earlier this year after he touted a newly received Ph.D. on his social media pages, drawing praise and congratulations from millions of fans around the world.

So why did Brown quietly delete those posts?

The answer could be this: a Texas higher education agency has ordered the self-described “Christian university” that awarded Brown an “honorary degree” to cease operating illegally under state law. 

In an age where credentials can open doors and bolster personal brands, Harvest Christian University (HCU) in Dallas has positioned itself as much more than an alternative to traditional higher education, but a pathway to the prestigious title of “Dr.”

Founded in 2010 by Archbishop Dr. Carl Robinson II, HCU brands itself as an “Indigenous School and Royal Accredited University” and claims to be a tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Service’s 501(c) designation, a status traditionally reserved for churches, religious institutions and other nonprofits.

HCU made headlines in June after it awarded an honorary doctorate to the 37-year-old Brown for his “longstanding impact on music, entertainment, and performance culture.” He went viral after showing off his honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Visual & Performing Arts degree from HCU, which touts a long history of awarding hundreds of honorary degrees to celebrities.

On its “Education” page, the HCU website celebrates “Dr. Brown” as part of its “Class of 2026” with a blurb reading: “Harvest Christian University proudly recognizes Dr. Chris Brown for more than 20 years of global artistic achievement, cultural influence, entertainment excellence, creative innovation, and sustained contribution to music, performance, and the creative arts industry.”

The HCU refers to Brown as “one of the most commercially successful and influential R&B artists of his generation” and calls him “an undeniable influence on contemporary music and global entertainment culture.”

Although the self-proclaimed “King of R&B” shared the news on Instagram in May with photos of himself in full academic regalia accepting the honor during a graduation-style ceremony, the post was later deleted at some point prior to July 13, according to a CP review of Brown’s social media pages.

It’s unclear why Brown took down the post. CP reached out to Brown via manager Anthony Wilson on July 14 for comment, but did not receive a response.

HCU honorary degrees

With a celebrity list of honorary doctorate recipients including Brown, Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr., better known as rapper Busta Rhymes, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known as singer-songwriter “T.I.” and reality TV star Sheree Whitfield, the honorary degree is the centerpiece of HCU’s website and social media.

The HCU website declares “honorary degrees are real degrees” while simultaneously describing such degrees as “a symbolic and distinguished academic recognition.” HCU’s site publicly laments the “bitterness” and “bias” toward honorary degrees. 

No institution recognized by the U.S. The Department of Education has accredited HCU.

With an appeal to the likes of Benjamin Franklin (whom it refers to as “the first American honorary doctor”), Maya Angeleou and Neil de Grasse Tyson, the HCU website traces the practice of handing out honorary degrees — also known as honoris causa — back to European universities in the 15th century. 

Its website and marketing materials aside, HCU is a university ostensibly in name only: there is no evidence HCU offers any in-class or remote instruction, curriculum or other traditional academic materials. The website claims a number of educational programs including “mini-MBA” and “executive MBA” business degrees, chaplaincy training and media technology, in addition to its signature honorary doctorate program. 

The HCU faculty page doesn’t list a single professor or similarly credentialed faculty member. It does, however, list folks like actor Israel Henry as its “University Chief Financial Officer” and singer-songwriter Monique Nikkole designated as “University of Community Engagement Dr. Monique Nikkole” as faculty members. 

A CP review found no indication that Henry, Nikkole or any other faculty member listed on the HCU page possesses a traditional academic credential.

Virginia Beach mayoral candidate and former City Councilmember Sabrina D. Wooten, who  received an honorary doctorate in public service on or around March 29, as detailed in a Facebook post in which Wooten described “attending a graduation ceremony in Plano, Texas to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Harvest Christian University.”  Plano is a suburb located north of Dallas.

The post read in part: “To be acknowledged in this way is both deeply meaningful and profoundly motivating. I am grateful to the leadership and faculty of Harvest Christian University for this prestigious honor, my husband, my family and everyone who has supported, guided, and believed in me throughout my journey.”

HCU recognized Wooten in an April 1 post on Instagram as “the first African American woman to run for mayor of Virginia Beach,” an honor for which Wooten thanked Robinson and “the esteemed faculty and alumni of HCU.”

Wooten told CP that given her degree was honorary, she didn’t experience a “day-to-day academic environment in the same way that degree-seeking students would.”

She said the process began after representatives from HCU told her they were recognizing her “years of public service, leadership, community engagement, and contributions to public administration and nonprofit work.”

“After those discussions, I accepted the honor,” Wooten added. “From my perspective, the honorary doctorate was a recognition of my professional accomplishments rather than an academic degree earned through coursework or dissertation research. I have always distinguished it as an honorary degree.”

“At the time I accepted the recognition, I understood it to be an acknowledgment of my service and leadership. My decision was based on the information available to me during that process.” 

Another public figure who received an HCU honorary doctorate is Pastor Shaun Rabb, a reporter for a FOX affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth. Rabb was identified as an HCU “honorary doctoral Masterclass recipient” in a March 26 post on Instagram. 

The post included a photo of Rabb, who also pastors the non-denominational New Light Church Mesquite just outside of Dallas, and identified him as an honorary doctoral recipient from the “spring class of 2026.”

Rabb declined an interview request by CP, and FOX 4 did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

HCU continued to use Rabb’s likeness on their social media as of July 30. 

Neither Wooten nor Rabb appeared to use the “Dr.” designation on any of their social media.