College of Education and Human Development Dean Gregory M. Anderson is pleased to announce that Patience Lehrman, Temple alumna and long-time executive director of two award-winning, grant-funded centers - the Intergenerational Center and the Center for Professional Development in Career and Technical Education, has a new title to add to her amazing list of accomplishments.
Lehrman's newest title is Vice Dean of Workforce and Community Development. In this new role, she will serve as the official representative of the college to the community and to the Bureau of Career and Technical Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Since becoming the director in 2015, Lehrman has secured more than $7 million in funding to operate a wide range of community-based programs that position the college as a leader in academic and workforce preparation, CTE teacher certification, and caregiver support.
"I am honored to accept this new role of Vice Dean for workforce and community development. It is a unique opportunity to strategically engage the collective wisdom of our students, faculty, staff, and a robust network of community partnerships to expand the Dean's vision for experiential learning and workforce development in the college."
"We are proud to have Patience serve as our vice dean. She is a proven leader in workforce development and her work is exemplary," said Anderson.
"As the Executive Director of both the Intergenerational Center and the Center for Professional Development in Career and Technical Education, Patience not only helped resurrect both IGC and CTE from serious decline and possible extinction but has also managed to secure over $7 million dollars in external funding as well as city, state, and federal contracts in recent years," added Anderson.
A leader in community service, education, workforce development, and immigrant integration, Lehrman, EDU '2001, EDU '2004, FOX '2011, EDU, '2018 is a first-generation college graduate and immigrant from Cameroon, West Africa. As a Temple-made, Temple proud alumna, Lehrman, had the distinct honor of serving as the 2013 Gallery of Success winner for the College of Education and Human Development.
Lehrman and her husband are both Temple Owls. They have been annual givers to Temple University and believe in education and are happy to continue to support the next generation of scholars through their giving and acts of service.
"Patience is a gifted administrator, community leader, and educator, who supports these valuable causes in which she believes and strives with her energy, time, talent, and treasure," said Ed Stoner, Assistant Dean, Development & Alumni Relations, Temple University College of Education and Human Development.
Additionally, Lehrman was a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2013 from President Barack Obama, the second-highest civilian award in the United States, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lehrman joined the ranks of other former recipients like General Colin Powell, Robert Gates, Bob Dole, Muhammad Ali, and many others.
Over the past decade, she has developed and led a wide range of initiatives with local and national organizations serving children and youth, low-income families, and immigrant and refugee communities.
In 2014, she was selected by former first lady Michelle Obama's office to lead the Reach Higher platform in Pennsylvania for College and Career Readiness. She launched a statewide Reach Higher Consortium in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to set state-wide targets for college attainment, improve pre-service and in-service school counselor training, strengthen partnerships between education and regional/local employers to increase internship opportunities, and align career pathway programs with industry demands.
In 2019, Lehrman and her team planned and invited former first lady Michelle Obama to keynote the National College Signing Day event hosted at Temple University in collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia which attracted thousands of attendees to celebrate high school seniors making the transition into postsecondary education.
In 2020, she was appointed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education as a Career Ready PA Champion to lead the state's strategy in region 10 (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia).
A lifelong learner, Lehrman is passionate about lifting others up through the work that she does in the College of Education and Human Development. "My father always encouraged education and hard work. I enjoy learning and encouraging others to strive to be the best in their chosen career path," said Lehrman.