September 20th 2023.
JoAnne A. Epps, the first Black woman to serve as president at Temple University, passed away suddenly on Sept. 19th at 3:15 p.m. after she fell ill while giving a speech at a memorial service for Charles L. Blockson. Blockson was a renowned collector of African-American art and artifacts who passed away in June 2023.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Epps was delivering her speech when her body suddenly slumped, prompting the announcer to ask if there was a doctor in the house. Epps was then carried out by a uniformed officer.
Ken Kaiser, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Temple, said that they were unaware of any health issues President Epps had. Her loss has been felt deeply throughout the university.
In a statement, Temple said that no words could describe how monumental her loss is. They noted that she had devoted nearly 40 years of her life to serving the university and that her loss will be felt for years to come.
The National Jurist listed her as one of the most influential people in legal education five years in a row. Prior to her role as acting president, she was Temple University's provost for five years and dean of the Beasly School of Law from 2008 to 2016.
Epps was a native of Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania and graduated from Yale Law School in 1976. During her career, she also held positions such as leader of an independent group of public defenders, assistant U.S. attorney in Philadelphia and assistant city attorney in Los Angeles.
Epps is survived by her husband.
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