Personality Spotlight: Arne Duncan

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Arne Duncan is the Chicago educator and former professional basketball player President-elect Barack Obama named as his choice as education secretary.

Duncan, 44, graduated from Harvard University in 1987, earning a bachelor's degree in sociology, While at Harvard, he was co-captain of the school's basketball team and named a first-team academic all-American.

Duncan played professional basketball from 1987-1991 in Australia, where he worked with children who were wards of the state, his biography published by Chicago Public Schools said.

In 1992, Duncan returned to Chicago to head the Ariel Education Initiative, which creates educational opportunities for children on Chicago's South Side. In 1998, he joined the Chicago Public Schools.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley named Duncan the chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools in June 2001.

Besides the Ariel Education Initiative, Duncan's board memberships include Chicago Cares, The Children's Center, the Golden Apple Foundation, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Jobs for America's Graduates, Junior Achievement, Renaissance Schools Fund, Scholarship Chicago and the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Foundation.

In 2006, the City Club of Chicago named Duncan Citizen of the Year.