*In this photo:* Jennifer A. White (right) stands beside her husband as she rings the bell after completing her final chemotherapy session.

On Campus

Graduation Spotlight: Jennifer A. White battles cancer while earning doctorate

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

This article is part of DSU’s Share Your Graduation Story series.

When Jennifer A. White began her doctoral journey at Delaware State University, she was hopeful. It was Fall 2022, she had a 4.0 GPA, and her husband was cheering her on.

“What makes you better makes us better,” he told her.

White, then 46 and a longtime educator, confidently threw herself into her studies. But in the summer of 2023, everything changed.

She had gastric bypass surgery on June 8. Just days later, a complication landed her in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism. Though she recovered, the ordeal forced her to slow down, and she failed one of her summer classes. “I didn’t push myself too hard,” she said, “but it was just too much.”

In July, she went in for her routine mammogram. She had always been diligent about screenings, but this time, the results were different. More imaging was needed, then an ultrasound and a biopsy.

On August 1, she had the biopsy. “I’ll spare you the trauma,” she said but described the pain as unlike anything she had ever felt. A few days later, her doctor looked her in the eye and said the words no one wanted to hear: “I am sorry, but it is cancer.”

White was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen-positive. Surgery followed, along with four rounds of chemotherapy and 20 sessions of radiation. Her hair began falling out on Thanksgiving.

“The next day, my husband shaved my head,” she said. “I honestly believe that was more difficult for him than for me.”

Through it all, she kept going. She worked full-time when her body allowed and she studied. In September 2024, she presented her dissertation proposal. In April 2025, she defended her dissertation with no revisions and her goal of becoming Dr. Jennifer A. White was achieved.

White shares her story not for pity but to help someone else feel less alone. “No matter how hard times may be, they can push through them and accomplish all that they want,” she said. “If I can, so can you.”