Howard Hillen Kerr (December 25, 1900 - June 16, 1984) was the first principal of what was then Ryerson Polytechnic University (Modern day Ryerson University). Kerr was born on a farm near Seaforth, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1926 with degrees in education and engineering and became an administrator in the public school system. During World War II he was in charge of training personnel for overseas duty.