JoAnne A. Epps, appearing president of Temple University, speaks throughout a Temple University commencement ceremony, May 11, 2023, on the Liacouras Center on Temple’s campus in Philadelphia. Epps has died after collapsing at a memorial service Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 19, the college stated.

Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer by way of AP

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Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer by way of AP

JoAnne A. Epps, appearing president of Temple University, speaks throughout a Temple University commencement ceremony, May 11, 2023, on the Liacouras Center on Temple’s campus in Philadelphia. Epps has died after collapsing at a memorial service Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 19, the college stated.

Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer by way of AP

PHILADELPHIA — Temple University appearing president JoAnne A. Epps died Tuesday shortly after turning into unwell on stage throughout a memorial service, officers stated, describing her loss as a intestine punch and struggling by means of emotion as they recalled her practically 4 a long time of service.

Epps was attending a memorial service on the college for Charles L. Blockson, a curator of a set of African American artifacts, when she suffered what a physician talking at a information convention described as a “sudden episode.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Epps, who was scheduled to talk on the service, slumped in her chair shortly after the occasion started and was carried out within the arms of a uniformed officer after the announcer requested if there was a physician in the home.

Epps was taken to Temple University Hospital, the place she was pronounced lifeless round 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, the college stated. She was 72.

Ken Kaiser, senior vp and chief working officer at Temple, declined to invest about Epps’ well being previous to her collapse, however he known as her loss of life a “gut punch for all of us right now.”

“We are not aware that President Epps had any health issues,” Kaiser stated on the information convention.

Kaiser advised The Associated Press that he had recognized Epps for 3 a long time.

“JoAnne was full of life, somebody who was super compassionate and truly cared about other people and had a wonderful way of pulling them all together and getting people excited about even a daunting task, making things fun,” he stated.

Temple University Provost Gregory Mandel choked up as he described Epps.

“We are all in deep grief and at a loss for words. To know JoAnne is to be her friend,” Mandel stated on the information convention.

Mandel stated the college’s Board of Trustees would meet Wednesday to “put together a plan for us as we work through this transition.”

Epps, Temple’s former regulation college dean and provost, was named to the put up in April following the resignation of Jason Wingard, the college’s first Black president, who resigned in March after main the 33,600-student college since July 2021.

Kaiser stated Epps began out working at Temple’s bookstore 40 years in the past and devoted herself to bettering the college.

In an interview in April with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Epps vowed to give attention to bettering enrollment and security, which had been hit by spiraling crime close to the north Philadelphia campus throughout her predecessor’s tumultuous tenure. The newspaper reported enrollment had dropped by 14% since 2019. Epps stated she believed she was chosen partly for her “ability to sort of calm waters.”

“I am obviously humbled and excited and really looking forward to being able to make a contribution to the university that I so love,” Epps advised the newspaper. She stated she wouldn’t be a candidate for the everlasting place.

The Temple Association of University Professionals labor union recalled Epps’ private contact.

“I remember her walking into my office this April, and chatting with me one-on-one about how we could work together to make Temple a better place,” union president Jeffrey Doshna stated in a press release.

Gov. Josh Shapiro known as her loss “heartbreaking for Philadelphia, saying she had been “a robust pressure and fixed ambassador for Temple University for practically 4 a long time.”

Kaiser recalled leaving the office when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Temple was shutting down.

“It was our final day within the workplace, we had been collectively and I stated, ‘OK, I’ll see you in a pair weeks,’ and I did not actually see her for 2 years,” Kaiser stated.

He later advised her that if he had recognized they would not see one another for 2 years, he would have given her a hug.