As he prepares to take charge as Temple's 10th president on Jan. 1, 2013, Neil Theobald had one last honor to receive from Indiana University, where he has been vice president and chief financial officer.

On Dec. 10, Theobald received the President's Medal for Excellence from Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie. The President's Medal is the highest honor an IU president can bestow.

The presentation was made during a special farewell ceremony for Theobald and his wife, Sheona Mackenzie.

According to an Indiana University release, the President's Medal for Excellence recognizes, among other criteria, distinction in public service, service to IU and extraordinary merit and achievement in the arts, humanities, sciences, education and industry. The medal itself is a reproduction in silver of the symbolic jewel of office worn by IU's president at ceremonial occasions.

McRobbie praised Theobald for his outstanding fiscal leadership during the nation's prolonged economic crisis and innovative thinking that helped reduce the impact of recent cuts in higher education funding.

"Thanks to Neil's superb financial management of the institution, IU has been able to weather the Great Recession far better than many of our peers," McRobbie said. "We have been able to not only preserve but to enhance the academic mission of the institution and the infrastructure that supports it. We have continued to elevate the quality of our faculty, to keep an IU education affordable, to attract record numbers of highly qualified students and to provide those students with record amounts of institutional aid.

"Neil's leadership has helped to make all this possible," McRobbie added. "Indiana University and the state of Indiana owe him a great debt for his outstanding service over the past two decades."

As CFO at Indiana, Theobald has been responsible for managing the university's $3 billion budget, which supports its more than 110,000 students, 3,000 faculty and 14,000 staff members.