JoAnne. A. Epps, the acting President at Temple University, has died at 72 after falling ill and collapsing at a recent university event. Epps had taken the helm five months ago after then-President Jason Wingard resigned.
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According to reports, the 72-year-old interim president at Temple University fell ill while on stage at a university event on Tuesday afternoon (September 19). A cause of death has not yet been released. However, it is reported that she was attending a memorial service being held for Charles L. Blockson, the curator of the Blockson Collection.
Upon collapsing ill, the acting President and Cheltenham native was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where she was soon pronounced dead around 3:15 p.m. A doctor claimed she had suffered a “sudden episode” at the event, and could not be revived at the hospital.
A press release — jointly written by Mitchell Morgan (TU’s Board of Trustees chair), Ken Kaiser (Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer), and Gregory Mandel (Senior Vice President and Provost) — in part stated, “There are no words that can describe the gravity and sadness of this loss. President JoAnne. A. Epps was a devoted servant and friend who represented the best parts of Temple. She spent nearly 40 years of her life serving this university, and it goes without saying her loss will reverberate through the community for years to come. The days ahead will be difficult, but we will lean on one another as President Epps would want us to.”
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Before JoAnne A. Epps’ passing, she was a prominent figure at the school, aside from being an interim President. Epps was a notable person at Temple’s Beasley School of Law, where she had taught for more than three decades. Eventually, in 2008, she became dean of the Law school. After eight years of sitting as dean, Temple University appointed Epps as the Executive Vice President and Provost. Then in April 2023, she took over as President for Jason Wingard who had submitted his resignation.
In addition to her legacy at Temple University, JoAnne. A. Epps also previously served as the assistant U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia, and the Deputy City Attorney in Los Angeles.
While speaking on her previous years of service, Epps noted that it all had a purpose. In a statement on her Temple University biography page, she said, “If we want to be sure that our time here has meant something, we must ensure that we have handed off to those coming behind us a commitment – and a passion – to work for the best world possible. For me, this means inspiring young lawyers to understand the exquisite opportunity our profession offers to serve our world while serving our clients and ourselves.”
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