State of the College

Presented by Interim Dean James Earl Davis to the College of Education and Human Development community on March 21, 2023

In this current historical moment – our schools and our community organizations – are facing many challenges. As I share the State of the College Address today, I can say with confidence that as a College of Education and Human Development, our students, staff, faculty, and alumni are addressing the challenges before them here in the Philadelphia community and nationwide, and I am proud of what we, as a College, are accomplishing together.

As a few examples, at present, we are facing a nationwide teacher shortage. Here at Temple, we are among the top producers of teachers for the School District of Philadelphia. Moreover, two of our faculty members, Dr. Annemarie Hindman and Dr. Judith Flanagan, have launched a project to support pre-school teachers in obtaining their certification quickly and effectively – therefore keeping these crucial educators in the field and enhancing their earning potential. Another essential component of the teacher shortage is teacher retention and preventing teacher turnover. One of our faculty members, Dr. Allison Gilmour, has conducted groundbreaking research on teacher skill development, teacher turnover, and teacher retention – expanding knowledge about how to give teachers the skills and competencies they need to remain in the field.

We are living in a time when the mental health needs of children and youth are significant. To address that challenge, our college will be hosting a large conference this Friday, March 24 to ensure that local school psychologists, school counselors, and applied behavior analysts, from the School District of Philadelphia and other surrounding districts, will have access to the most up-to-date research and best practices in the field. We are giving local practitioners on the ground the tools they need to support children in our community. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Celeste Malone, a CEHD alumna and president of the National Association of School Psychologists, who is a champion for social justice and student mental health care at the national level.

Another challenge that CEHD has taken on via our Institute on Disabilities is addressing issues of social isolation and loneliness, health communications and access to technology for disabled people across the commonwealth through a grant from the CDC and PA Department of Health. Moreover, the Institute was invited to the White House Black History Event as an expression of appreciation for their service and goal of advancing equity for all – including the Black disability community.

As a college, we are committed to maintaining and enhancing our impact on the community moving forward. We are in a solid financial position to do so. Moreover, I have every confidence that we have, and will continue to recruit, the staff, faculty, students, and leaders that we need to continue to make a positive impact on our community.

Colleges nationwide, but particularly in this region of the country, are facing the challenge of declining enrollment. However, we are addressing those challenges through innovative scholarship programs, creative approaches to marketing, and expanding our programming into new areas. We have continually been commended by upper administration at Temple for meeting our financial goals, and we will continue to do so.

This financial success is demonstrably enhanced through the generous support of our donors. In regard to fundraising, we are among the top fundraisers of all schools and colleges at Temple University. This year, we have nearly met our fundraising goal, and have raised over 2 million dollars with a goal of 3 million. Our donors understand that, in order for our students to do the amazing work that they do, we first have to get them in the door. Thus, we have hundreds of unique donors for our scholarship programs. Our donors understand the barriers that students face in accessing and being successful in higher education, and we are grateful to them for partnering with us to help students overcome those barriers, become Owls, and fly!

Regarding leadership, while I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the college in an interim capacity, a search is underway for a dean who is prepared to lead us into the future. We are conducting a national search in partnership with the search firm WittKieffer to find a dean with the experience, judgment, and  values to advance the incredible work of the college. The search is open to both internal and external candidates, and stakeholders from throughout the college have been invited to share their views and help to shape a vision for what we need in our next leader. I have every confidence that we will identify the right individual to lead our exceptional college forward and carry out our mission.

In summary, the future of the College of Education and Human Development is bright. We have met our financial goals and are well-situated to meet the needs of our students and serve our community. We have students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are innovative and passionate as they generate solutions for the greatest challenges our communities and schools face and act in service of others. Moreover, we have generous and talented alumni who recognize the difference that the College of Education and Human Development makes and have chosen  to support us and continue to be a crucial part of our success story. We couldn’t do it without all of you! Thank you!

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