MARTIN UNIVERSITY HONORS LEON KERRY WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE OF LAWS DURING 2011 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

MARTIN UNIVERSITY HONORS LEON KERRY WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE OF LAWS DURING 2011 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow, acting president of Martin University, bestowed upon Leon G. Kerry an Honorary Doctorate of Laws during a commencement ceremony held Saturday, May 7, 2011, that also presented to 81students their university diplomas.

Mr. Kerry is commissioner and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), located in Hampton, Virginia. Kerry has guided the 99-year old, 13-member conference to unprecedented success. The CIAA Basketball Tournament is the third most attended athletic event in collegiate sports. Only the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big East tournaments have larger attendance for their respective events. The CIAA is the first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II conference to have its tournament televised as part of Championship Week on the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (ESPN), the cable television giant and, TV One.

Kerry is a native of Hampton, Virginia, and holds a degree in business administration from Norfolk State University, as well as a degree in banking from the American Institute of Banking. Prior to his tenure with the CIAA, Kerry served as assistant vice president of Sovran Bank (now Bank of America), Atlantic National Bank and Systems Management of America. Kerry is also a decorated U.S. Army officer serving both active duty and in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Kerry and his wife of 38 years, Angela, reside in Chesapeake, Virginia. They have two adult daughters, Lisa and LeAnne and one granddaughter, Madison.

“Mr. Kerry’s luminous career and his outstanding talents provide a distinguished example to our students about how dedication, service and wisdom provide the foundation for success,” said Dr. Westerhaus-Renfrow. “It is our honor to present to Mr. Kerry this honorary degree and to have him join us on such an important day.”

In addition to presenting Mr. Kerry with his honorary doctorate, Dr. Westerhaus-Renfrow conferred honorary doctorates to three other outstanding community leaders.

Dr. Westerhaus-Renfrow presented Deborah Hearns Smith, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. The Reverend Melvin J. Jackson, a licensed and ordained gospel minister and pastor of Christian Love Missionary Baptist Church, received an Honorary Doctorate of Theology. Mr. James H. Colon, vice president of Toyota product communications at Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

The Honorable Andre Carson, U.S. Representative for Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District, delivered the commencement address.

Martin University is a private, four-year accredited institution of higher education. This not-for-profit liberal arts institution, founded in 1977, provides excellence in educating and developing all students with expertise in serving and empowering low income minority and adult learners in a healthy and collegiate environment.