Dear Students and Colleagues,

Following a national search, I am delighted to share that Elizabeth A. Wentz (Libby) has been named Temple University’s senior vice president and provost. Subject to final approval by Temple’s Board of Trustees, Libby will begin in this role on July 1, 2026.

A seasoned higher education leader with extensive experience in academic planning, faculty affairs, student success and university partnerships, Libby currently serves as vice provost and dean of the Graduate College at Arizona State University (ASU).
In that role, she oversees graduate education including academic planning, graduate faculty development and student success. She also collaborates with colleagues who lead other portfolios, including undergraduate academic planning, faculty affairs, university partnerships and enrollment strategy.

Prior to her current position, Libby served as Dean of Social Sciences at ASU from 2015 to 2020. A division within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, her portfolio included nine academic schools, 14 research centers, 300 faculty, and 9,000 graduate and undergraduate students.

Libby’s appointment to this crucial role could not come at a more opportune time. Just last month, we introduced our strategic plan, Forward with Purpose. She is uniquely qualified to help us build on our current momentum and play an important role in our implementation efforts.

I want to thank our search advisory committee and specifically its chairs, Dean Jennifer Ibrahim and Professor Nora Newcombe, for all their efforts in helping guide this search over the last 11 months. I also want to thank David Boardman for his unwavering dedication to this university while serving as interim provost. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him going forward.

I invite you to learn more about Libby and the impressive credentials that she brings to the role of provost in this Temple Now piece. In the meantime, please join me in warmly welcoming Libby to the Temple community.

Sincerely,

John Fry
President