Bachelor's

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies to reduce barriers to employment, including prerequisite bachelor’s degrees, for most state jobs.

West got her bachelor’s in fine arts from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich., in 2003 and her master’s in fine arts from Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y., in 2006.

He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal State Long Beach and a master’s in public administration from USC.

“I had gotten my bachelor’s degree in behavioral science while in prison,” he says, “and I wanted to use that to keep other people from going down the path I did. When I got out, I found that a lot of people glorified me for all the wrong reasons. And I needed to change that perception and do it right in front of them.”

Mr. Sewell, who has a bachelor’s degree in performance studies and a master’s degree in theater, sends his video drafts to his sisters for notes.