On Friday, August 22, new College of Public Health (CPH) and School of Social Work (SSW) students gathered on the turf in the STAR Complex for the annual tradition of convocation, marking the start of the academic journey for first-year and transfer students.

Dean Jennifer Ibrahim welcomed the largest incoming class in CPH history, noting they will also be the first to experience the brand-new Paley Hall. “You will spend your entire Temple career with that building, and we are excited to learn how to use the space alongside you,” she said.

Along the sidelines, faculty from academic programs met with students in their majors, while campus clubs and organizations shared ways to get involved. CPH and SSW faculty, staff, and students then assembled for a group photo in a “T” formation—a keepsake the dean promised to share again at graduation.

The day concluded in the Liacouras Center, where the college’s newest students joined peers from across the university for a high-energy welcome to life at Temple.