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Last week, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania finalized and implemented the budget for Fiscal Year 2012 as well as an appropriation of $139 million dollars for Temple University. While this is a decrease of 19 percent from last year, it is a significant improvement over the initial proposal of reducing funding for Temple by more than 50 percent. Altogether, Temple will receive more than $57 million more than the amount proposed in March. President Ann Weaver Hart has recorded a video address to the Temple community explaining what these cuts will mean for the university.

I would like to thank the entire Temple community for their efforts to help secure a fair appropriation for the university this year through the Temple Advocates Legislative Outreach Network (TALON). Over the last four months, members of TALON have sent more than 10,000 letters to Pennsylvania's elected officials communicating the importance of the Commonwealth's investment in Temple. Advocates have held rallies on Main Campus and in Harrisburg, visited the offices of each member of the General Assembly, and made countless phone calls and district office visits to Pennsylvania's elected officials. The outpouring of support for Temple this year was crucial in securing a reasonable appropriation.

Before we close the book on this legislative session, I have one more request: Please contact your elected officials using TALON's online tools and thank them for their vote in favor of our appropriation. As always, I would also ask that you share this message within your networks and encourage your friends and peers to also thank their elected officials.

Thank you again for all that you have done to support Temple, and enjoy the rest of the summer. I look forward to working with you to secure fair funding for Temple University in the years to come.

Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr.
Senior Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s budget process is entering its final weeks and Temple University is continuing to advocate for a fair appropriation for the coming fiscal year.

As the budget debate winds down, it is important that we not lose sight of what we are fighting for—the current and future students of Temple University. Our students come from all walks of life, reside in 66 out of 67 counties in the commonwealth and help generate an economic impact of more than $3 billion annually. Our student body is among the most diverse in the nation and supports countless community organizations through volunteerism and advocacy. I am incredibly proud to help advocate for Temple students in Harrisburg.

I would like to invite you to get to know some of the Faces of Temple, and learn about how our students are working to ensure a great future for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These students have already accomplished a great deal, have bright plans for the future and embody the spirit of Temple University.

Finally, I want to thank those of you who have written, emailed, phoned or spoken in person to their elected officials about Temple. Your voice has been crucial to ensuring these students have the opportunity to experience a world-class education at an affordable price. If you have not yet advocated for Temple's students, please visit our site and send a letter or email to your elected leaders.

Stay tuned for more updates on the budget process in the days to come as legislators and the governor work to meet the June 30 deadline.
—Kenneth Lawrence Jr., Senior Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs

Temple University’s Office of Institutional Advancement has announced the appointment of Audrey Schneider to the dual roles of assistant vice president of alumni relations and executive director of the Temple University Alumni Association. Her appointment will take effect July 1.

Schneider presently serves as Temple’s director of special events, where she oversees planning, coordination and implementation of national and international university events, from large academic ceremonies to small dinners in the president’s private residence. Working with the Executive Office of the President, the Board of Trustees and other leadership offices university-wide, Schneider managed logistics for the opening ceremonies of Tyler School of Art and the Temple Performing Arts Center, and oversaw all aspects of the historic events celebrating Temple’s Access to Excellence campaign. Schneider also serves as an events and protocol consultant to departments across the university.

Schneider joined Temple in 2007 from Drexel University, where she held the position of director of college relations and special projects for LeBow College of Business. Prior to that, she served as director of the 200th anniversary celebration for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), America’s oldest museum and school of fine arts. Schneider came to PAFA from the University of Pennsylvania, where she served as special events coordinator for then-president Judith Rodin.

Competing against a national candidate pool for the assistant vice president position, Schneider successfully demonstrated the leadership and vision required to direct planning, organization and marketing of comprehensive programs to enhance loyalty, dedication and engagement among alumni and friends in a new era for Temple.

“Audrey’s passion for and commitment to Temple, combined with her demonstrated strategic leadership at Temple and elsewhere, made her the candidate of choice following our national search,” says Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement David Unruh. “I am thrilled to welcome her into this new role.”

Schneider holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in rhetoric and communications from Temple and a Master of Science in organizational dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. She served the Temple University Alumni Association as a member of the Temple Young Alumni Association Board from 1998 to 2000. Her offices will be located in suite 100, Sullivan Hall on Temple’s Main Campus.

Before it was renamed Cecil B. Moore, North Philadelphia's Columbia Avenue was a well-known haven for some of the most notable names in jazz. John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and many unknown musicians responsible for shaping the North American jazz genre found their mentors and cut their musical teeth in the smoky jazz bars that once lined the neighborhoods surrounding Temple University.

Although those clubs are long gone, the spirit of jazz is kept alive in Temple's classrooms and performance halls thanks to Director of Jazz Studies Terell Stafford and the students and faculty of the Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Since joining the Temple faculty, the award-winning trumpeter has helped shape a thriving musical scene on campus by creating an educational environment where young musicians learn more than scales.

In addition to being able to study with some of the biggest names in jazz, students are given a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the jazz industry through one-on-one clinics with professional musicians and regular performances in local, national and international jazz venues.

“Terell is committed to his students and to the jazz program,” said Robert T. Stroker, dean of the Boyer College of Music and Dance and Vice Provost for the Arts. “That’s one of the many reasons I recruited Terell and appointed him director. He not only teaches his students about the history and creative aspect of jazz, he teaches them how to be respectful adults and professional musicians. Our jazz students are a direct product and reflection of Terell himself.”

Recent graduate Danny Janklow compares his experience at Temple to a being a part of a tight-knit family of musicians.  He says his experiences at Boyer helped shaped him as an artist.  

“It’s all due to Terell,” said the recent graduate and award-winning saxophonist. “He put so much energy and time into finding the right professors and the right guests artists.  I watched him create a community of musicians that embraces the Philadelphia scene, the New York scene and maintains a strong European connection.”

Stafford’s push for excellence leaves little room for down time; when he’s not mentoring a music student, he’s in the studio or on the road, performing for national and international crowds.  While others are vacationing, Stafford is maintaining a busy schedule.

“Summer time is always busy,” Stafford said. “I don’t get much time off… I don’t sleep much. I don’t think I could manage my schedule if I didn’t love what I do so much.”

In addition to touring Europe with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers, Stafford spent this summer putting the finishing touches on a new CD titled To Thad, With Love, a musical tribute to Thad Jones recorded entirely by Temple jazz students.

Stafford sees his work in jazz education as an extension of the great musicians who came before him. He’s not at all swayed by changes in popular music; in fact he foresees jazz continuing to influence music for years to come.

“I’m always inspired by the new direction the genre is taking,” he said. “I don’t hesitate to say jazz will be as strong in 20-years… maybe stronger in the future.”

“The scene is healthy and growing. Hopefully it will continue to grow so that there are more opportunities for students to experience Philadelphia for the incredible jazz city that it is.”