Arne Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987, majoring in sociology. He was co-captain of Harvards basketball team and was named a first team Academic All-American. From 1987-1991, Mr. Duncan played professional basketball in Australia, where he also worked with children who were wards of the state.
Duncan returned to Chicago in 1992 to direct the Ariel Education Initiative, which seeks to create outstanding educational opportunities for inner-city children on the Citys South Side. In 1998, he joined the Chicago Public Schools.
In June, 2001, Mayor Richard M. Daley named Duncan Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools.
Duncan currently serves on the Boards of the Ariel Education Initiative, Chicago Cares, The Childrens Center, the Golden Apple Foundation, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Jobs for Americas Graduates, Junior Achievement, the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation, Renaissance Schools Fund, Scholarship Chicago and the South Side YMCA.
He also serves on the Board of Overseers for Harvard College and the Visiting Committees for Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Education and the University of Chicagos School of Social Service Administration. He was a fellow in the Leadership Greater Chicagos class of 1995, and a member of the Aspen Institutes Henry Crown Fellowship Program, Class of 2002. He has received honorary degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Lake Forest College and National Louis University.
In 2006, the City Club of Chicago named Duncan Citizen of the Year.
He only has a BS and a bunch of ‘honorary’ degrees? Pretty slim resume to be the Secreatry of Education.