JoAnne A. Epps

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = JoAnne A. Epps

| order = 13th President of Temple University

| term_start = April 11, 2023

| term_end = September 19, 2023

| predecessor = Jason Wingard

| successor = Richard M. Englert (acting)

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|5|28}}

| birth_place = Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|9|19|1951|5|28}}

| death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| spouse = L. Harrison Jay

| education = {{ubl|Trinity College (BA)|Yale University (JD)}}

}}

JoAnne Adrienne Epps (May 28, 1951 – September 19, 2023) was an American legal scholar and academic. After serving as the executive vice president and provost of Temple University, she was the university's 13th president. She was the first Black woman to be permanently appointed and serve as President of the University.{{Cite web|url=https://temple-news.com/mentor-educator-friend-honoring-joanne-epps/|title=Mentor, educator, friend: honoring JoAnne Epps - The Temple News|date=September 26, 2023|website=temple-news.com}}

Early life and education

Joanne Adrienne Epps' father was a machinist, and her mother was an administrator at Temple’s Tyler School of Art (then in Elkins Park). She was born on May 28, 1951, and grew up in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, graduating from Cheltenham High School in 1969.{{cite news|url = https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/joanne-a-epps-obituary-temple-university-president-philadelphia-20230922.html|title = From Cheltenham to Temple and all stops in between, JoAnne A. Epps made people feel 'special, important, and seen'|newspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirer|date = September 22, 2023|accessdate = September 22, 2023|last = Miles|first = Gary|url-access = limited}}{{cite news |last1=Mondics |first1=Chris |title=JoAnne A. Epps: Stepping into new roles is nothing new to her |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/20161113_JoAnne_A__Epps__Stepping_into_new_roles_is_nothing_new_to_her.html |access-date=September 20, 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 11, 2016}} She was recruited as a promising African-American student to enroll in Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where she became a member of the first class of women at that school.

Epps received a B.A. in 1973 from Trinity and a J.D. in 1976 from Yale Law School.{{Cite web|url=https://law.temple.edu/contact/joanne-epps/|title=JoAnne A. Epps – Temple Law|website=Temple University Beasley School of Law}}

Career

Epps began her legal career in 1976, as a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles. She moved back to Philadelphia in 1980, and became an assistant United States attorney. She joined Temple Law School as a faculty member in 1985, and then served as associate dean for academic affairs from 1989 to 2008. In 2009, she was named as a potential Barack Obama Supreme Court candidate.{{cite web |last=Totenberg |first=Nina |author-link=Nina Totenberg |url=https://www.npr.org/2009/05/17/104222039/supreme-court-choices-you-havent-heard-of |title=Supreme Court Choices You Haven't Heard Of |website=Weekend Edition Sunday |publisher=NPR |date=May 17, 2009}} She served as dean of Temple University Beasley School of Law from 2008 to 2016 before becoming provost.{{Cite web|url=http://news.temple.edu/news/2016-07-11/temple-trustees-approve-appointments-joanne-epps-and-cindy-leavitt|title=Temple trustees approve appointments of JoAnne Epps and Cindy Leavitt |website=Temple Now|date=July 13, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2016}} She became acting president in 2023,{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Temple University announces JoAnne Epps as acting president |url=https://news.temple.edu/announcements/2023-04-11/temple-university-announces-joanne-epps-acting-president |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Temple Now}} following the resignation of Jason Wingard.{{cite news |title=JoAnne A Epps, acting president of Temple University, dies aged 72 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/19/joanne-epps-president-temple-university-dies |access-date=September 20, 2023 |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=September 19, 2023}}

Epps' primary areas of teaching included criminal procedure, evidence, and trial advocacy.{{cite news |title=From prosecutor to provost, Temple's JoAnne Epps leaves a mark in law |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/20161101_From_prosecutor_to_provost__Temple_s_JoAnne_Epps_leaves_a_mark_in_law.html |access-date=September 20, 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=October 31, 2016 |language=en}} She taught Litigation Basics, a course for first-year law students at Temple. National Jurist named Epps one of the 25 most influential leaders in legal education,{{cite news |last=Romero |first=Dennis |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/temple-university-acting-president-dies-suddenly-collapsing-onstage-me-rcna105910 |title=Temple University acting president dies suddenly after collapsing onstage at memorial service |work=NBC News |date=September 19, 2023 |access-date=September 19, 2023}} and her work on curricula and experiential learning in legal education served as inspiration for a new center at Temple Law School for training on accessing civil justice (the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice). Epps trained Sudanese lawyers who represented victims of the war in Darfur, as well as prosecutors for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

After her death, Temple's Board of Trustees posthumously named Epps university president, removing "acting" from her title.{{cite news|url = https://www.inquirer.com/education/joanne-epps-death-temple-vigil-20230920.html|title = Hundreds gather to remember Temple's JoAnne A. Epps during Temple vigil: 'We are her legacy'|newspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirer|date = September 20, 2023|accessdate = September 20, 2023|last = Snyder|first = Susan|url-access = limited}}

Personal life and death

Epps was married to L. Harrison Jay, a longtime employee in Temple's community affairs office. They lived in Shamong Township, New Jersey.

On September 19, 2023, Epps was onstage at a memorial service for Charles L. Blockson at Temple's Performing Arts Center, when she abruptly fell ill and lost consciousness in her seat.{{Cite web |last1=Russ |first1=Valerie |last2=Snyder |first2=Susan |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Temple's acting president, JoAnne A. Epps, has died after falling ill on stage at university event |url=https://www.inquirer.com/education/joanne-epps-temple-university-president-dies-20230919.html |access-date=September 19, 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}} She was taken to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at age 72.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/us/joanne-epps-temple-university-acting-president-dies/index.html|title=Temple University President JoAnne Epps dies suddenly after falling ill during event|last1 = Paget|first1 =Sharif|first2=Christina|last2=Maxouris|date=September 19, 2023|website=CNN}}{{Cite press release |title=Tragic news to share |date=September 19, 2023 |publisher=Temple University |language=en |url=https://news.temple.edu/announcements/2023-09-19/tragic-news-share |last1=Morgan |first1=Mitchell |last2=Kaiser |first2=Ken |last3=Mandel |first3=Gregory |access-date=September 25, 2023}} A colleague announcing her death described her illness as a "sudden episode".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joanne-epps-temple-university-dies-president/|title=JoAnne Epps, Temple University's acting president, dies|date=September 19, 2023|website=CBS News}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/temple-university-acting-president-dies-suddenly-memorial-service/story?id=103323055|title=Temple University acting president dies suddenly during memorial service|website=ABC News}}

Tributes

2024 - JoAnne Epps Hero of Justice Award - Pennsylvania Innocence Project{{cite web | url=https://painnocence.org/JoAnne-Epps-Hero-of-Justice-Award | title=Hero of Justice Award in memory of Temple University President JoAnne Epps }}
2023 - President Emerita designation - Temple University{{cite web | url=https://news.temple.edu/news/2024-09-26/honoring-joanne-epps-year-reflection-and-celebration | title=Honoring JoAnne A. Epps: A year of reflection and celebration | date=September 26, 2024 }}
2023 - JoAnne A. Epps Beasley School of Law Scholarship - Temple University{{cite web | url=https://news.temple.edu/news/2024-09-26/honoring-joanne-epps-year-reflection-and-celebration | title=Honoring JoAnne A. Epps: A year of reflection and celebration | date=September 26, 2024 }}
2023 - JoAnne A. Epps Undergraduate Scholarship - Temple University{{cite web | url=https://news.temple.edu/news/2024-09-26/honoring-joanne-epps-year-reflection-and-celebration | title=Honoring JoAnne A. Epps: A year of reflection and celebration | date=September 26, 2024 }}
2017 - JoAnne Epps Award - Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/joanne-a-epps-obituary-temple-university-president-philadelphia-20230922.html | title=From Cheltenham to Temple and all stops in between, JoAnne A. Epps made people feel 'special, important, and seen' | date=September 22, 2023 }}
2016 - Business Leadership in Diversity Award - Fisher Phillips Law Firm{{cite web | url=https://www.phillytrib.com/news/business/joanne-epps-honored-with-business-leadership-in-diversity-award/article_d22174e3-e0ba-52d5-99d2-b8f7fee5b681.html | title=Joanne Epps honored with business leadership in diversity award | date=December 20, 2016 }}
2016 - Inaugural Class Philadelphia Business Hall of Fame - Philadelphia Inquirer{{cite web | url=https://sjmagazine.net/women/south-jerseys-joanne-epps-honored-industry-icon-award | title=South Jersey's JoAnne Epps Honored with Industry Icon Award | date=November 18, 2016 }}
2016 - Spirit of Excellence Award - American Bar Association{{cite web | url=https://temple-news.com/mentor-educator-friend-honoring-joanne-epps/ | title=Mentor, educator, friend: Honoring JoAnne Epps - the Temple News | date=September 26, 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://leadinginclusion2018.president.upenn.edu/cth_speaker/joanne-a-epps/ | title=>Changing the National Conversation - Inclusionand Equity 2018 }}
2015 - Ashley Dickerson Award - National Association of Women Lawyers{{cite web | url=https://temple-news.com/mentor-educator-friend-honoring-joanne-epps/ | title=Mentor, educator, friend: Honoring JoAnne Epps - the Temple News | date=September 26, 2023 }}
2014 - Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award - Philadelphia Bar Association{{cite web | url=https://temple-news.com/mentor-educator-friend-honoring-joanne-epps/ | title=Mentor, educator, friend: Honoring JoAnne Epps - the Temple News | date=September 26, 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://leadinginclusion2018.president.upenn.edu/cth_speaker/joanne-a-epps/ | title=>Changing the National Conversation - Inclusionand Equity 2018 }}
2012 - Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/joanne-a-epps-obituary-temple-university-president-philadelphia-20230922.html | title=From Cheltenham to Temple and all stops in between, JoAnne A. Epps made people feel 'special, important, and seen' | date=September 22, 2023 }}
2009 - Wiley A. Branton Award - National Bar Association{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/joanne-a-epps-obituary-temple-university-president-philadelphia-20230922.html | title=From Cheltenham to Temple and all stops in between, JoAnne A. Epps made people feel 'special, important, and seen' | date=September 22, 2023 }}
2009 - Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Award - Philadelphia Bar Association{{cite web | url=https://temple-news.com/mentor-educator-friend-honoring-joanne-epps/ | title=Mentor, educator, friend: Honoring JoAnne Epps - the Temple News | date=September 26, 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://leadinginclusion2018.president.upenn.edu/cth_speaker/joanne-a-epps/ | title=>Changing the National Conversation - Inclusionand Equity 2018 }}

Selected publications

"Classical Rhetoric and the Modern Trial Lawyer", 36 Litigation 2, with Paul Mark Sandler & Ronald J. Waicukauski, 2010{{cite journal |title=Classical Rhetoric and the Modern Trial Lawyer |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/29760765 |jstor=29760765 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |last1=Sandler |first1=Paul Mark |last2=Epps |first2=Joanne A. |last3=Waicukauski |first3=Ronald J. |journal=Litigation |date=September 24, 2023 |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=16–20 }}
{{cite journal|url= https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/almID/1202432335929/ |title=A Tipping Point for Law Schools? |journal=National Law Journal |date=July 20, 2009}}
The 12 Secrets of Persuasive Argument, with Paul Mark Sandler & Ronald J. Waicukauski, American Bar Association, 2009, {{ISBN|978-1-60442-594-9}}{{cite book |title=The 12 Secrets of Persuasive Argument |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E4OQS9fCnFAC |isbn=978-1-60442-594-9 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |last1=Waicukauski |first1=Ronald J. |last2=Sandler |first2=Paul Mark |last3=Epps |first3=Joanne A. |date=September 24, 2023 |publisher=American Bar Association }}
101 Vignettes for Improving Trial Evidence: Making and Meeting Objections with Anthony Bocchino and David Sonenshein, {{ISBN|978-1-60156-968-4}}, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2nd edition: 2023, 1st edition: 2005{{cite book |title=101 Vignettes for Improving Trial Evidence Skills |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lhe1EAAAQBAJ |date=March 22, 2023 |publisher=Aspen |isbn=978-1-60156-968-4 |access-date=September 20, 2023}}
Trial Evidence: Making and Meeting Objections (book, videotape and teacher's manual) with D. Sonenshein & A. Bocchino, {{ISBN|978-1-55681-233-0}}, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 3rd edition: 2004; 2nd edition: 1990{{cite book |title=Trial Evidence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RDpPQAACAAJ |date=September 24, 1990 |publisher=National Institute for Trial Advocacy |isbn=978-1-55681-235-4 |access-date=September 20, 2023}}
The Winning Argument, with P. M. Sandler & R. J. Waicukauski, American Bar Association, 2001, {{ISBN|978-1-57073-938-5}}{{cite book |title=The Winning Argument |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyjMncdipPIC |isbn=978-1-57073-938-5 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |last1=Waicukauski |first1=Ronald J. |last2=Sandler |first2=Paul Mark |last3=Epps |first3=Joanne A. |date=September 24, 2023 |publisher=American Bar Association }}
"Ethos and the Art of Argument", 26 Litigation 31, with Paul Mark Sandler and Ronald J. Waicukauski, 1999{{cite book |title=The Art of Argument |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g7-nSgAACAAJ | date=September 24, 1999 |access-date=September 20, 2023 | last1=Epps | first1=Joanne A. }}
"Clarifying the Meaning of Federal Rule of Evidence" 703, 36 Boston College Law Review, 53, 1994{{cite journal |title=Clarifying the Meaning of Federal Rule of Evidence 703 |url=https://lira.bc.edu/work/ns/f40a2b4d-97fa-44d9-91c3-cf5b9b6b5916 |journal=Boston College Law Review |date=December 1994 |volume=36 |issue=1 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |last1=Epps |first1=Joanne A. }}
"Passing the Confrontation Clause Stop Sign: Is All Hearsay Constitutionally Admissible?" 77 Kentucky Law Journal, 7, 1988{{cite journal |title=Passing the Confrontation Clause Stop Sign: Is All Hearsay Constitutionally Admissible? |url=https://uknowledge.uky.edu/klj/vol77/iss1/3/ |journal=Kentucky Law Journal |date=January 1988 |volume=77 |issue=1 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |last1=Epps |first1=Joanne }}