[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 17TH PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE, DR. ANNE B. 
                                  KERR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SCOTT FRANKLIN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2024

  Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. 
Anne B. Kerr, who recently retired from her role as the 17th president 
of Florida Southern College. Her dedication to academic excellence and 
a quality campus life experience transformed Florida Southern into one 
of the best liberal arts colleges in the South.
  Dr. Kerr developed her interest in education during her psychology 
studies at Mercer University. She then earned a master's degree in 
counseling and a doctorate in higher education administration from 
Florida State University. Prior to her tenure at Florida Southern, Dr. 
Kerr held executive roles at Rollins College and the University of 
Central Florida before serving as the University of Richmond's Vice 
President for Institutional Advancement.
  Dr. Kerr's 20-year tenure as Florida Southern College's 17th 
president was the second-longest in the school's history. Her steadfast 
leadership yielded the college's highest enrollment numbers and 
academic ranking. The college became a top producer of Fulbright 
Scholars in the Nation, a prestigious scholarship for students pursuing 
studies abroad. To house Florida Southern's monumental growth, the 
college added 22 new buildings, expanded 20 others and restored many of 
the famed Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.
  Dr. Kerr also helped expand Florida Southern's academic offerings by 
adding 19 new graduate degree programs, including the Barney Barnett 
School of Business and Economics, the first named school on campus. 
Other new programs were added in accounting, education, nursing and 
physical therapy. On the eve of her retirement, she also announced the 
emergence of a new undergraduate architecture program, with a graduate 
program to follow in 2028.
  Dr. Kerr declared at the start of her tenure she wanted FSC to be 
``recognized as one of the nation's small, preeminent colleges.'' It is 
safe to say she exceeded her vision. Dr. Kerr's success was driven by 
her faith and the fulfillment brought by seeing her students achieve 
their dreams. We are lucky she intends to continue to inspire future 
generations, returning to Florida Southern in Spring 2025 to teach a 
leadership course in the Barnett School of Business.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Kerr's accomplishments and passion for students is 
an inspiration to us all. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing 
her an enjoyable and well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________