Theresa Powell has long been remembered as one of the architects behind Temple University’s Division of Student Affairs. Nationally, she is regarded as a pillar of the student affairs profession and even following her passing, the legacy of Temple’s former vice president for student affairs only continues to grow.

On Tuesday, March 12, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) recognized Powell posthumously with the John L. Blackburn Distinguished Pillar of the Profession award, which was presented during the NASPA and NASPA Foundation Awards Celebration. The ceremony was part of the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference, which was held in Seattle.

“Dr. Theresa Powell will be remembered as a passionate student affairs educator whose impact on students, student affairs professionals and the profession overall is unmatched,” said Danita M. Brown Young, the vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who presented the award for NASPA. Young also served as co-champion for Theresa’s nomination, along with Lori S. White, the president of DePauw University. “The legacy left by Dr. Theresa Powell will continue to serve students and student affairs professionals forever. We are honored to celebrate her posthumously with the John L. Blackburn Distinguished Pillar of the Profession award,” Young said.

Powell served as Temple’s vice president for student affairs from 2002 until her unexpected passing on Jan. 2, 2023. More than 14 months later, her legacy continues to inspire both those who knew her as well as a new group of student affairs professionals determined to follow in her footsteps.

“It hurts because we lost a trailblazer who paved a path for so many of us at Temple and in NASPA. Others were able to follow because she led,” said Olan Garrett, Temple’s associate vice president of student affairs, during the ceremony.

Together with Michael Jackson, vice president for student affairs emeritus at the University of Southern California, Garrett accepted the award on Powell’s behalf.

Olan Garrett (pictured at left), Temple’s associate vice president of student affairs, and Michael Jackson, vice president for student affairs emeritus at the University of Southern California, accepted the John L. Blackburn Distinguished Pillar of the Profession award on Powell’s behalf. (Photo courtesy of NASPA)

The John L. Blackburn Distinguished Pillar of the Profession award was the final award presented during the ceremony, and it is the NASPA Foundation’s highest honor. The award is presented annually with NASPA’s Pillars of the Profession award as the Foundation Board selects up to two previous Pillars of the Profession who continue to grow and strengthen the student affairs field. Powell was previously recognized with the Pillar of the Profession award in 2003.

While at Temple, Powell is remembered for helping transform Temple from a commuter school to a residential one. She developed countless programs that would help create the vibrancy that is hallmark of the university, and she also introduced the Weeks of Welcome program, which is held at the beginning of each semester and is key in ensuring that first-year students start their tenure at Temple on the right foot.

But beyond her professional achievements, she is most remembered for being a kind, nurturing soul who knew how to motivate and empower students, faculty and staff alike to be their best selves.

“In Theresa, we lost a person who genuinely cared about you professionally, as a person and cared about your well-being,” Garrett recalled during his remarks. “She wanted to know about you, your family, what was going on with you, and how she could support you and enroll herself into your possibility. It doesn’t matter whether you met her one time, had the honor of knowing her over many years or fall somewhere in-between, she made you feel like you were the most important person and was genuinely interested in seeing you succeed.”