Just one week after the announcement that Provost Hai-Lung Dai would be relieved of his administrative duties, a nomination for his replacement has been made.
JoAnne Epps, Dean of the Beasley School of Law, was nominated Tuesday by President Theobald to fill the position. Her nomination must still be approved by the Board of Trustees.
Epps joined Temple University in 1985, and spent the last eight years as dean. Under her guidance, Temple’s Beasley School of Law soared into the U.S. News and World Report Top 50 Law Schools. President Neil Theobald said in a statement Tuesday that “[her] impeccable record in teaching, student success, diversity and social justice, coupled with her longstanding commitment to Temple and the City of Philadelphia, makes her ideally suited for this important leadership role.”
“I am honored to serve the University in this new role, and to be a part of the University’s continued upward trajectory,” Epps said in a statement to Temple Update. As Provost and Executive Vice President, Epps’ role would be to oversee Temple’s 17 schools and colleges, faculty and student affairs, enrollment management, and computer services.
The Cheltenham, Pa native earned her undergraduate degree from Trinity College and her law degree from Yale. Before joining the staff of Temple, she spent time as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and as a deputy city attorney for Los Angeles.
Dean Epps is a notable figure in the law community of Philadelphia and beyond. She has been recognized multiple times as one of the Top 25 Most Influential People In Legal Education by National Jurist, and in 2014, was the recipient of the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award by the Philadelphia Bar Association. In 2015, she was appointed to the Police Oversight Board by Mayor Michael Nutter. Most recently, in February, Epps received the Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession.
While Epps is to take over as Provost, Theobald named Gregory N. Mandel to act as interim dean of the law school. Mandel, who joined the Temple faculty in 2007, currently acts as associate dean of research and is the current Peter J. Liacouras Professor of Law. Temple University said they plan on conducting a search to find a permanent replacement.
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