On Thursday, May 8, more than 900 graduates from Temple University’s College of Public Health (CPH) and School of Social Work (SSW) gathered at the Liacouras Center for a spirited and heartfelt commencement ceremony, marking the 59th such celebration in the college’s history.
The morning began with a warm welcome from Dean Jennifer Ibrahim, who expressed gratitude to the graduates and their loved ones in attendance. “It is my distinct honor to serve as the dean for the College of Public Health and School of Social Work,” she said. “We are delighted to have you here with us to celebrate.”
Dean Ibrahim acknowledged several special guests, including Trustee Tiffany Wilson, a 2004 MPH alum, and Chris Barnett, a Temple alumnus and healthcare entrepreneur whose appointment as a University Trustee was formally announced just two days before the ceremony. She also welcomed Temple University President John Fry, noting it was a significant moment to have him address graduates in his first commencement season as president.
President Fry, who joined Temple in fall 2024, commended the graduating class: “Your commitment to public health embodies the very mission of Temple University—to serve, lead, and uplift our communities. Today, you enter a world that urgently needs you.”
The keynote address was delivered by entrepreneur and Temple alum Chris Barnett (CLA ’10), founder of ABA Centers and newly appointed University Trustee. Barnett, who recently won the 2024 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Overall National Award, brought both humor and inspiration to his remarks—especially when he gave a shoutout to his daughter Kaitlyn, a fellow graduate.
“I dropped out of high school. I have a GED—and a doctorate,” Barnett shared, recounting how persistence led him to Temple after an initial rejection. “Temple wasn’t founded to serve the privileged. It was built to serve the driven.”
In a surprise gesture, Barnett gifted each graduate a copy of The Go-Giver, a book that reflects the values he attributes to his personal and professional success. “True success comes not from chasing money or achievements, but from serving others first,” he told the crowd.
Student speaker Ariana Ali-Yerima, earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, reflected on the class’s journey. “This is our moment—one that marks the culmination of our resilience and growth,” she said, highlighting her classmates’ dedication to health equity and community engagement.
With proud family members, faculty, and friends looking on, the Class of 2025 turned their tassels and stepped into their next chapters—prepared, as Barnett put it, to lead with heart and create impact.
“You’re Temple Made,” he reminded them. “Go change the world.”