Quinta Brunson tells Temple University graduates at commencement to keep their community close

PHILADELPHIA — Quinta Brunson plays a public school teacher on television. In real life, she’s now an honorary doctor.

The Philly native and "Abbott Elementary" creator received an honorary doctorate of fine arts before addressing students at Temple University’s 137th commencement ceremony Wednesday morning.

Students and their families packed Temple’s Liacouras Center, marking an in-person graduation for a batch of undergraduates who saw many significant occasions — including high school commencements — canceled or moved online during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 8,800 students received undergraduate or graduate degrees from the North Philadelphia public university this year, according to a statement. The school has faced a spate of enrollment and safety challenges since former President Jason Wingard resigned in March 2023.

Resilience was the word of the day for Wednesday’s ceremony and Brunson’s speech, which jokingly referenced the toughness it takes to “survive North Philadelphia.”

“Kids at UPenn got nothing on you,” Brunson said.

Brunson, 34, grew up in West Philadelphia attending Philadelphia public schools, where her mother, Norma Jean, was a teacher. Watching her mother work — coupled with the resolve of her sixth-grade teacher at Andrew Hamilton Elementary — inspired Brunson to create the smash-hit ABC sitcom "Abbott Elementary," which uses an array of office comedy tropes to shine light on persistent funding, facility, and resource issues in Philly’s public school system.

Brunson’s work on the show has earned her two Emmys — for outstanding comedy writing and best lead actress in a comedy — a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedic television series, and a spot on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people for 2022.

But before that, Brunson was an advertising major at Temple who skipped class to hang out at the Student Activities Center and perform with the school’s student-run sketch comedy troupe. She dropped out during her sophomore year to move to Los Angeles.

“Brunson’s contributions to the entertainment industry ... reflect her unwavering determination to shine a light on important issues and make difference in the world through the magic of laughter,” Temple president Richard Englert told the crowd after thanking Brunson’s mother for “inspiring Quinta.”

...continued

swipe to next page