Florida Southern College President Dr. Anne Kerr was inducted into the Tampa Business Hall of Fame on March 7 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa.
The Florida Council on Economic Education hosed the 26th annual award ceremony that recognized individuals for their business accomplishments in the Tampa area.
According to the Florida Council on Economic Education, the honor is reserved for those who make significant contributions to the community through business and civic achievements, and serve as lifelong examples of integrity and high ideals.
Proceeds of the night supported the education programs and financial literacy initiatives of the Florida Council.
Kerr, along with Richard and Cornelia Corbett, Don DeFosset and William Edwards, were all inductees into the 2013 Hall of Fame.
“I really think that honor was for the college and I liked serving as the representative of the college, but it really was based on everything that Florida Southern is achieving,” Kerr said.
Kerr explained that the many accomplishments of Florida Southern College were, in a way, being recognized by the honor.
“We’ve had all these building projects on the way, you know, eight new building projects, a major restoration plan for our Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, a lot of technology enhancements with the technology building, going completely wireless,” Kerr said. “So all of those things, I think, were what brought a spotlight over here and I just have the blessing as serving as the president.”
Since 1975, the mission of the Florida Council on Economic Education has been to prepare Florida’s young people for personal and financial success through education programs to become productive members of the workforce.
“This mission is increasingly relevant in today’s economic environment,” the Florida Council on Economic Education’s brochure states. “In an effort to address the needs of a financially under-educated population, the FCEE offers teacher training and standards-based programs and curricula to K-12 Florida teachers to enable them to deliver life-changing economic education to their students.”
Kerr will be added to a list of many who have significantly impacted the Tampa community.
“So I see it as the award for Florida Southern and, as we all know, it takes an entire team to achieve great results, and then I think we have such great students,” Kerr said. “What they are achieving and the name they are making for the college through their professional accomplishments is also very important.”
Kerr said that she owes many of her successes to the impactful women in her life. Many are women who play important roles in the FSC community such as Sarah D. McKay, Dr. Marjorie Roberts, Dr. Marcene H. Christoverson and Dr. Carol Jenkins Barnett.
“There are so many people I admire just so much,” Kerr said. “There have been a lot of women in my life and then now at this stage, there’s several trustees that are very important to me, who I seek their council and really enjoy having their support and guidance on things.”
Kerr believes these influential women will continue to impact her life.
“I think sometimes it’s great when you think about, like in my case, there are only 21 percent of college and university presidents in the U.S. are women, so it has been important to be inspired by other women who achieved so much,” Kerr said.
