Dr. Greg Cynaumon

The LA Times reported that the famous CortiSlim doctor received a doctorate in psychology from Sierra University, a school that was later shut down by the State of California. They also reported that he is a former police officer who was fired for falsifying information in an official report.

The company is apparently under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission.

 

Here is a link to the article.

It goes back to the old adage, if it seems too good to be true -- it probably isn't true

 

Was Sierra "shut down"? Or did it just go out of business?

The founders of Sierra originally called it "University Without Walls" after finding out that the original never copyrighted thename. They later changed it to "Sierra" when they realized that "UWW" was clunky and not worth the confusion.

Sierra, IIRC, had their programs approved under California's old 3-tier system, not a mean feat. I got the feeling they were running a legitimate school on par with CCU.

Does anyone have independent information indicating that California "shut down" Sierra? Schools that were approved before the switch to the current system-where all schools must be approved--seemed to survive, whereas very few "authorized" schools were able to make the jump. Perhaps Sierra was an exception.

 

Here is some more information on him:


www.edresearch.com/CynaumonChallenge.htm . This is only what this gentleman found.

 

It would appear as though our friend Gary Adams has a serious beef with Mr. Greg Cynaumon.

 

Now what about Dr. Talbot?

 

If we're talking about people with fraudulent academic credentials, I'd rather see "Dr." Swift Eagle Justice on TV than "Dr." Greg--and it's not even close.

Though, judging by the looks of things, he wouldn't be too convincing hawking diet programs.

 

One of the URL's given in the article is for licensure lookup. Appears John Gray is no longer licensed either.

http://www2.dca.ca.gov

Go to the BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES heading, click on the Marriage and Family Therapists (Licensees, Interns) link and then type in John Gray.

Looks like Dr. Laura is still licensed.

 

I don't think John Gray ever was licensed or claimed to be. His point was that at the time he received his PhD, Columbia Pacific graduates could apply to sit for the state boards in psychology, which I suspect he never did.

My memory was -- not correct, as it turns out -- that L. Ron Hubbard got his doctorate at Sierra. Turns out it was Sequoia University, which was active in the fifties. Even though Hubbard publicly renounced the degree after ten or so years, I've heard Scientologists refer to him as Doctor Hubbard.

 

You may be correct but I am almost certain he claimed, at one time, to be a licensed marriage and family counselor. I will see what I can find out.

 

I'd be interested in that, Jimmy. And I think it wouldn't surprise me if he had said or at least implied it.

I don't have the exact quote, but when Inside Edition came calling on him to challenge his degree claims, he said (2 or 3 times, rather loudly) something on the order of "I'm the bestselling author in the world. What does it matter what degrees I have."

(It's not easy to figure out who is the best-selling author, but I think there are quite a few folks, from God to Dr. Spock to McGuffey to Dan Brown to Danielle Steel who might have a better claim.)

John Bear
Author, The #1 New York Times Bestseller

 

Dr. Laura and Dr. Spock are the only ones among the distinguished folks being discussed in this thread who have a doctorate from an accredited university (both from Columbia University, not Columbia Pacific).

 

"Was Sierra "shut down"? Or did it just go out of business?"

According to a very good source, the Council or Bureau denied re-approval for Sierra and rather than appeal, the school accepted the decision.

 

Speaking of "small world": Gray's ex-wife (and fellow Columbia Pacific alum) Barbara DeAngelis received her masters from Sierra University (before she became queen of the relationship infomercials).

The now-defunct Sierra University was, of course, not connected in any way with the legitimate and accredited Mt. Sierra College or La Sierra University (the latter was formerly a campus of Loma Linda University).

 

Aw! You mean that the king & queen of these relationship deals are divorcees?

 

Rich said:

"I got the feeling they were running a legitimate school on par with CCU."


This gut feeling seems to be as good a method as any in assessing the legitamacy of unaccredited DL schools. The approval process sure hasn't worked .


Thanks,
Dan

 

But the approval process was much more robust then, saved for real schools offering real programs. It was only after the state switched to institutional approval--and required all schools to go through it--that it became watered down. They went from a few dozen approved programs to many, many more that had to be approved. That's why I had a good impression about Sierra. (This was in 1984, though.)

 

Good points Rich. But from a prospective
students viewpoint they have no way of knowing this and can only assume state is diligently doing their job. After all the unaccredited DL school disasters in California you would think the state would have a handle on this problem.

Thanks
Dan

 

And that's the problem with relying upon California State Approval: they approve some really bad schools.

 

I agree.