Noted leaders inducted into SF State Hall of Fame
Bay Area Council’s Jim Wunderman and Michelin-lauded chef Mourad Lahlou among recipients
San Francisco State University President Leslie E. Wong and University community members will honor five outstanding alumni and a dedicated SF State volunteer and community leader on Friday, Nov. 3, at the annual President's Dinner and Alumni Hall of Fame Celebration. The event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.
“Central to San Francisco State University’s mission is preparing its students and alumni to become productive, ethical, active citizens with a global perspective,” said Interim Executive Director of Alumni Relations Nicole Lange. “The Hall of Fame event is an excellent opportunity to honor outstanding alumni and community members who embody those qualities.”
Alumnus of the Year
Jim Wunderman (B.A., ’84), who graduated with a degree in political science, will be recognized as Alumnus of the Year. Wunderman is president and CEO of the Bay Area Council, an organization that advocates to make the Bay Area the world’s most innovative, competitive and sustainable region. The Council has helped raise billions of dollars for transportation projects and leads in developing a national model for the innovative early education program Talk, Read, Sing.
Distinguished Alumna Service Award
Kim Mazzuca (B.A., ’85; M.S., ’90) graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology/physical education and in 1990 received a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, both from the College of Health & Social Sciences. Mazzuca has been the president and CEO of 10,000 Degrees since 1999 and has dedicated her career to creating equitable opportunities for those traditionally underrepresented in society. She has led the organization to become the leading college success nonprofit in California, helping thousands of students from low-income backgrounds get to and through college.
In addition to Wunderman and Mazzuca, President Wong will recognize the following alumni as 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees:
From left: Mary F. Calvert, Mourad Lahlou and Norman SchwartzMary F. Calvert (B.A., ’88) is an award-winning, internationally recognized photojournalist and is committed to using photography to effect meaningful social change. She graduated with a degree in journalism from the College of Liberal & Creative Arts.
Mourad Lahlou (B.A., ’93), chef and founder of the restaurants Aziza and Mourad, is considered by many as the pioneer of modern Moroccan cuisine. He graduated with a degree in economics from the College of Business.
Norman Schwartz (B.A., ’74) is the president and CEO of Bio-Rad Laboratories, a Fortune 1000 company. He graduated with a degree in business administration from the College of Business.
President’s Distinguished Medal
Colonel John H. KernPresident Wong will also bestow Colonel John H. Kern with the President’s Distinguished Medal, which recognizes non-alumni whose contributions have provided long-lasting and widespread benefits for the University and the greater community.
In 1982, John H. Kern retired from the United States Army Corps of Engineers after 31 years in the military; he was wounded in both the Korean and Vietnamese wars, rose to the rank of colonel and served as the chief engineer of the Sixth U.S. Army. He went on to become one of the founders of the Autodesk Corporation and eventually held high-level positions for Bank of America. He also became a busy volunteer, devoting himself to both the town of Tiburon and SF State’s Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC).
More information about the event is available here.