JoAnne A. Epps, a graduate of Cheltenham High School, took on many roles during her long career at Temple University, but her biggest legacy is how she truly cared for people, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Epps, 72, president of Temple University, passed away on September 19 at Temple University Hospital after becoming ill during a memorial service on campus for Charles L. Blockson.

A Temple University law professor as well as former provost and dean of the Beasley School of Law, Epps was planning on spending more time in the classroom this fall, but when she got the call to serve as acting president after President Jason Wingard resigned, she knew she couldn’t say no.

Those who knew her best said she was devoted to Temple, particularly the people of the university. She wanted to help them, especially women of color, see how much of a difference they can make in the world.

“Too often it doesn’t even occur to women that they can run the world,”, she told S.J. Magazine in 2014.

Friends and colleagues said that she always made people feel seen and heard and offered whatever guidance she could.

Joanna McClinton, speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, has praised her for “championing women and people of color in the legal profession and inspiring a generation of leaders.”

Read more about JoAnne A. Epps and her almost 40-year career at Temple University in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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In memory of President JoAnne A. Epps.