Angela J. Davis believes in giving back to Temple University, a place from which her mother and son also graduated, and an institution where “so many genuinely good things happened to me as a result of being part of the Temple community.”
Davis’ Temple career began when she started working for Temple University Hospital after graduating high school, which allowed her to work her way through her undergraduate studies.
It was during this time, according to Davis, that her passion for Temple was kindled, a passion that she has turned into her life’s work. She has ignited that same excitement for the University in alumni and others, which has resulted in a groundswell of support for Temple University Ambler and the College of Public Health.
“Six years ago, when I had the opportunity to return to Temple after some time in ‘Corporate America,’ I knew I had to help provide resources for people that might not otherwise have access to everything that the University has to offer,” Davis said. “When I was a student at Temple, for me accessibility was key — I could go to Temple and work at the same time. I came to Temple through the Russell Conwell program, which gave me the guidance and support I needed to succeed. I also attended classes at Main Campus, Ambler Campus and Temple Center City (all part of Temple’s University College), which provided me with a wonderful opportunity to personally experience life on Temple’s various campuses.”
Davis, who received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the Fox School of Business and her MBA from Arcadia University, is now turning her attention toward University College as a whole. Davis has been appointed Assistant Dean of Development for University College, which includes the Temple University Ambler, Harrisburg and Center City campuses, Summer and Special Programs, Digital Education, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), the Real Estate Institute and ProRanger Philadelphia.
“During Angela’s time at Temple, and her time at Temple Ambler in particular, she has truly been able to inspire great interest in our unique initiatives and educational opportunities among a broad spectrum of constituents. From recent graduates to alumni that haven’t visited the campus in decades to businesses and organizations that might not have otherwise connected with Temple, she has helped us build a dedicated base of supporters who want to see our programs thrive,” said Dr. Vicki Lewis McGarvey, Vice Provost for University College. “We’ve identified several programs within University College that need more of that sort of philanthropic support to ensure we are able to provide the best experiences for our students. Angela has personal experience with many of these programs and understands the unique needs of each program and campus, which, in turn, will be essential in identifying the audiences interested in supporting those initiatives.”
Davis said each campus and program within University College is integral to the University’s ongoing mission, providing educational programs for a richly diverse population of students. That population includes high school students experiencing a college campus for the first time during summer programs, the future National Park Service rangers in ProRanger Philadelphia and the more than 1,000 lifelong learners that have made OLLI so successful.
“I am excited about our progress at Temple Ambler and I look forward to helping more alumni and friends fulfill their philanthropic goals. My primary goal is not only to raise funds for University College but to increase our overall alumni participation — each time an alumnus makes a contribution to Temple Ambler, Harrisburg or TUCC, it symbolizes a vote of confidence in these campuses,” she said. “Temple is an amazing place. Temple believes in and cares about people; Temple cares about the community. It’s a very easy place to become excited about.”