Temple University Office of the Vice President for Research的动态

Transcript

- To the 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, 8,700 members of the faculty and staff, the more than 370,000 Temple Owls currently living across the world and our incredible North Philadelphia neighbors and partners, I am so honored and deeply humbled to join you in this next chapter of Temple University's history as the 15th president. Throughout my career, I have been fueled by the ability of higher education to transform the lives of students and make a substantial impact in our communities. I can think of no better place to continue this work than right here at Temple. It is a deep privilege to lead this storied institution, an institution that is so critical to the social and economic vibrancy of the city of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond. Temple's historic mission has never been more relevant than it is today. This is a university that is built upon access and excellence. It is built upon the notion that every student, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to pursue the world class education that defines this university. Temple is not only Philadelphia's public university, it is a global center of academic excellence with campuses in Japan and Rome. We are uniquely positioned to set the standard for urban research universities in opportunity, engagement and discovery. Temple Health is a leading academic medical center that produces tangible improvement in health inequities and measurable positive changes in health outcomes for Philadelphia's most underserved communities. I look forward to working with all of you to contribute to the legacy of this remarkable institution. I also see this as an opportunity to build on the successes of my dear friends, the late President JoAnne Epps and President Dick Englert. Because of their leadership, I arrive at a time of great momentum and opportunity for the Temple community. I do not come to Temple with a playbook already written. My time working in higher education has shown me that open-mindedness and flexibility are key. I am committed to listening to students, faculty and staff, alumni, and our North Philadelphia neighbors and working in collaboration with all of you to seize this moment and move this university forward together. The listening and learning will be ongoing, but as these conversations occur, we'll focus our efforts on the following overarching priorities. As a vibrant urban university, campus and neighborhood safety is priority number one. Since former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey conducted his safety audit, significant progress has been made with numerous operational and technological improvements now in place. But this work is never done. In collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, I plan to continue prioritizing a comprehensive approach to the safety of our campus and neighborhood to cultivate a safe and welcoming place to live, learn, and work. Second, Temple must continue diversifying our strategies for enrollment. We are already on a great path. This fall new student enrollment is up from last year with significant growth across every category, including first year, transfer, graduate, and international. At a time when many institutions have faced enrollment challenges, this year's performance is evidence that the appeal and value of a Temple education is as strong as ever. Third, we must invest in academics, research, and our people. Temple is an R1 Carnegie classified university with about $300 million in research expenditures. This university is a powerhouse, but we must continue to invest in our faculty, their research and the holistic student experience. If we do that, we also have the opportunity to make my fourth priority a reality, which is to spur an innovation corridor along Broad Street, bounded by Temple's main campus and Temple Health Sciences campus, and perhaps one day south into center city. Building on the great work that is already being done by community members, through listening and collaboration, Temple University can become an even better neighbor. We can innovate in a way that addresses the needs of North Philadelphia and features development that is inclusive, sustainable, and represents a shared prosperity with the individuals who call this part of Philadelphia their home. And lastly, as we look towards the next decade and Temple's 150th year, our fundraising efforts will be a key determinant of what we are able to achieve. I want to invest in our students and their experience here at Temple and I want to invest in our people, the people who power Temple and who have given so much of themselves to this great institution. We need dollars to get this done, and that starts with telling the Temple story and building stronger relationships with our alumni and potential partners to earn their support. Working with all of you, we will ensure our alumni feel excited and enthusiastic about their alma mater and its path forward, and that the world sees Temple as we do, a vibrant hub of innovation and impact. I am energized about the future at Temple University, and I hope you are too. As we move forward together one thing is certain, I'll need your help. I am so eager to listen and to learn from the talented and dedicated people here at Temple, and that includes all of you. So let's get to work. Thank you so much for welcoming me into the Temple community. Let's imagine and build a brighter future together.