February 2022

Change can be exciting or challenging, and as we will see in some of our features this month with love, perspective, and perseverance we can continue to soar as a community built around education.

In late January, Dean Anderson shared his decision to leave the Office of the Dean at the conclusion of the spring academic semester after guiding the College of Education and Human Development for what will be a total of nine years by the end of May.  Please join me in thanking Dean Anderson for his service in this role.  After enjoying a much-welcomed sabbatical, Dean Anderson will be engaged in the development of a major program of research focus on postsecondary access, inclusion, and success, continuing to support CEHD’s mission around education as a mechanism for social mobility for all learners.

What February edition could go without a love story?  Learn more about Joe and Fran Darpino, two alums who met at Temple’s College of Education in the ‘70s and have shared their love for education and each other ever since.

In meeting and speaking to many alumni, it is amazing the variety of career paths and jobs they have, as well as how they have applied their education degrees.  Two such alumni are Kimberly S. Reed, ’19, who was recently featured in Ebony Magazine discussing her book focusing on realistic optimism and her path through cancer and on to the C-Suite for a consulting business, and Sean Desai, ’08, a former Chicago Bears and Temple University football coach, who will be our March Owl Hour presenter.  Dr. Desai will focus his presentation on his non-traditional career path and how he continues to apply lessons learned from his education degree as a coach, professor, and parent. 

As Kimberly S. Reed eloquently put it, “There’s a combination of optimism and realistic thinking that helps people navigate through life.”  Here’s to our continued thinking in support of something we all appreciate and love, education.

With Gratitude,

Ed Stoner, EdD
Assistant Dean of Development and Alumni Relations
College of Education and Human Development
Temple University