Eugene R. Tempel, Ed. D., CFRE, founding dean of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, will transition from that role to a faculty position at the end of 2014 as planned, university officials announced today.
A search committee has started seeking Tempel’s successor. The committee is chaired by Andrew R. Klein, dean and professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. AGB Search is assisting with the process. The committee will interview candidates and recommend finalists to Charles R. Bantz, chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
An internationally recognized leader in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector for decades, Tempel played an integral role in envisioning, founding and developing the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — the world’s first school dedicated to the study and teaching of philanthropy — and its precursor, the Center on Philanthropy.
“Indiana University owes Gene Tempel a large debt of gratitude, not only for his years of outstanding service but in particular for the passion and commitment he has shown as the founding dean of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy,” said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. “As a result of Gene’s efforts, the Lilly Family School has further established IU’s position as the premiere institution for the study of philanthropy, and is ideally positioned for the future.”
Tempel helped create the school and initiated its naming in honor of the Lilly Family’s philanthropic leadership and the Lilly Family and Lilly Endowment’s support for the school and IU. He secured the school’s first permanent home in an IUPUI campus building on which construction began this month. In collaboration with the school’s faculty and directors, he oversaw creation of a constitution and bylaws and helped recruit four new core faculty members to serve its rapidly growing student body.
“It has been my privilege to serve IU in a number of leadership positions since 1980. I’m particularly grateful to the university for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help lead the development of the Philanthropic Studies field and to see it grow into the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy,” Tempel said. “I’m looking forward to joining my colleagues as a full-time member of its faculty, and to teaching and learning from the next generation of philanthropy leaders.”
After serving as the Center on Philanthropy’s executive director from 1997 to 2008, he became president and CEO of the Indiana University Foundation. Tempel returned to the center in 2012 to head efforts to create the School of Philanthropy and was appointed founding dean. At the time he was appointed, Tempel said he would serve for two years to lead organization of the school, with the understanding that a search for his successor would begin in the second year.
“Gene Tempel’s contributions throughout his distinguished career have strengthened and advanced Indiana University and IUPUI immeasurably,” said Bantz. “Through his superb vision and direction, what began as a glimmer of an idea is now a first-of-its-kind, world-class School of Philanthropy and a global field of study. The school’s internationally acclaimed research, academic programs and training bring tremendous recognition and unlimited opportunities to IU and IUPUI. We are grateful for Gene’s leadership and please that he will remain as a member of the school’s faculty.”
A long-time leader of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ ethics committee, expert advisor to Independent Sector’s Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, and the first elected president of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, Tempel has received numerous honors including the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education. The NonProfit Times selected him to its annual list of the 50 most influential nonprofit sector leaders in 12 of the list’s 16 years and bestowed on him the “2013 Influencer of the Year,” the first time the award was given.
Tempel will complete his tenure as dean on December 31, 2014. Following a year of research, course preparation and family time, he will return to the school as a full-time faculty member.
