JoAnne Epps, interim president of Temple University, dies after falling ill while serving on campus

PHILADELPHIA CREAM — Temple University interim president JoAnne A. Epps died after collapsing during a memorial service Tuesday afternoon, the university announced.

Epps was transported to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, the university said. She was 72 years old.

Ken Kaiser, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Temple, declined to speculate on Epps’ health before his collapse.

“We don’t know if President Epps has had any health problems,” Kaiser said at a news conference.

“There are no words to describe the severity and sadness of this loss,” Temple Board of Trustees Chairman Mitchell Morgan said in the release. “President Epps was a devoted servant and friend who represented the best aspects of Temple. She spent nearly 40 years of her life serving this university, and it goes without saying that her loss will reverberate through the community for years to come.

Temple University Provost Gregory Mandel choked up while describing Epps.

“We are all in deep grief and at a loss for words. To know Joanne is to be her friend,” Mandel said at the news conference. “She was one of the most remarkably compassionate and caring people I have ever known.”

Mandel said the university’s board of trustees will meet Wednesday to “develop a plan for us as we work through this transition.”

Epps, former provost and dean of Temple’s law school, was named to the position in April following the resignation of Jason Wingard, the university’s first black president, who resigned in March after leading the university of 33,600 students since July 2021.

Kaiser said Epps began working at the Temple Bookstore 40 years ago and was dedicated to improving the university.

Epps pledged to focus on enrollment and safety due to spiraling crime near Philadelphia’s North Campus and other problems during her predecessor’s tumultuous tenure. She told the Philadelphia Inquirer, which reported that registrations were down 14% since 2019, that she believed she was selected in part for her “ability to calm the waters.”

“I’m obviously honored and excited and really looking forward to being able to make a contribution to the university that I love so much,” Epps told the newspaper. She said she would not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Gov. Josh Shapiro described Epps as “a powerful force and constant ambassador for Temple University for nearly four decades.”

“Losing her is heartbreaking for Philadelphia,” Shapiro said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Lori and I hold JoAnne’s loved ones in our hearts right now. May her memory be a blessing.”

Temple released this statement to the university community on Tuesday:

“It is with deep sorrow that we write to inform you that Interim President of Temple University, JoAnne A. Epps, passed away suddenly this afternoon.

While attending a memorial service at the Temple for Charles L. Blockson, curator of the Blockson Collection, President Epps became ill. She was transported to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 3:15 p.m.

There are no words to describe the severity and sadness of this loss. President Epps was a devoted servant and friend who represented the best aspects of Temple. She spent nearly 40 years of her life serving this university, and it goes without saying that her loss will reverberate through the community for years to come.
Our hearts go out to President Epps’ family and all members of the Temple community at this time.

The days ahead will be difficult, but we will lean on each other as President Epps would have us. »

The Associated Press contributed to this report.