Ann Zwicker Kerr Joined by Her Son, Coach Steve Kerr, at USF Commencement

Ann Zwicker Kerr was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters and gave the commencement address to 386 graduate students at the College of Arts and Sciences commencement in St. Ignatius Church. Her son read the honorary degree declaration.

Kerr listed his mother’s accomplishments, including as the longtime coordinator of the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Enrichment Program at UCLA, where she teaches a class once a week.

“In short, and I say this in a completely unbiased way, my mom is awesome,” Kerr said.

His remarks were met by cheers.

The Kerr family has long had a connection to international education. Ann Zwicker Kerr met her husband, Malcolm, in Beirut, Lebanon, and the couple returned in 1982 with their four children to the American University of Beirut, where Malcolm Kerr was president.

Seventeen months later, Malcolm Kerr was assassinated in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War.

“My mom has long advocated for respectful discourse among nations and peoples,” Kerr said. “She has had more than her share of darkness, but long ago learned to focus on the light.”

In her address to graduates, Ann Zwicker Kerr spoke about the importance of education — and basketball — as a way to create better relationships between nations.

“We are building international understanding through education — and through the internationalization of basketball,” she said. “As you know the NBA has become global, and I’m proud my son has been part of that.”

She thanked student speaker Arturo Parades, who received his master’s degree in international studies. Parades talked about growing up in South San Francisco, sleeping on floors and later working as a janitor, before attending USF. “My hope is that every child growing up in a low-income area gets the same support to achieve, as I am doing today,” he said.

“What a fine example of a USF graduate,” Ann Zwicker Kerr said. “I deeply respect USF for the internationalization you embody in all of your programs. And to you graduates, I hope all of you will carry on the spirit of internationalism in your lives.”