Dear members of the Temple community,

As we settle into the routine of a new semester, I would like to give you the latest update on our search for a new president.

During the fall semester, we issued a position description and promoted it to leaders within Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania and the U.S. Since then, we have fielded applications from an impressive range of candidates from diverse backgrounds boasting an array of experiences and qualities. I am proud to say that there is a positive buzz about Temple and significant interest and excitement for this momentous opportunity to lead our university into the future.

This particular moment in history—Temple’s and the world’s—is defined by unique challenges, and as such, we continue to look for candidates who can meet those challenges. What any serious contender must demonstrate are the priority qualities and assets that you mentioned during our listening sessions: a collaborative, decisive leadership style; a deep understanding of Temple’s mission and the critical role it plays in Philadelphia; a visionary plan to grow the university; and the talent to engage and unite the community around that vision.

The search advisory committee’s work is to now identify the most promising contenders from the pool of applicants. The committee met for several hours last week and had a rich discussion about prospective candidates; in the coming weeks, the first round of interviews will take place. We continue to move ahead, with an expected announcement this spring. This committee remains committed to a confidential search to protect our candidates’ privacy and ensure a seamless hiring process.

I am deeply grateful for the diverse perspectives and insights contributed by all members of the committee, especially our deans and faculty, and student representative. If you have any questions about the search, read responses to frequently asked questions and continue to stay up to date at president.temple.edu/search. 

Sincerely,

Mitchell L. Morgan 
Chair of the Board of Trustees