Earlier this fall, Temple University’s College of Public Health (CPH) moved into its new home. Now, the college has a new name to match.
On Friday, Oct. 10, during the official grand opening ceremony for the newly renovated and reimagined Paley Hall, Temple President John Fry announced that University Trustee Christopher Barnett, CLA ’10, had committed $55 million to support CPH. It is the largest gift in Temple’s history and in recognition of Barnett’s generosity, CPH will now be known as the Christopher M. Barnett College of Public Health.
“Today, I am thrilled and deeply moved to announce that Chris Barnett has just made a $55 million gift to the College of Public Health, the largest gift ever to Temple University,” Fry said to the crowd of several hundred in attendance. “The word philanthropy comes from the Greek, meaning ‘love of humankind.’ Chris’s gift is a true expression of that love. It will create many more opportunities for students to join the vanguard of future healers, researchers, and leaders across the health sciences and professions.”
The gift comes at a time of considerable momentum for both Temple and CPH. With the opening of the 306,000-square-foot LEED and WELL certified Paley Hall, students, faculty and staff in CPH now have a unified home for the first time in the college’s history. Prior to the opening of Paley Hall, CPH was spread across 11 buildings on both the Main and Health Sciences Center campuses.
Additionally, the $55 million gift is the second record-setting commitment that Temple has received in just over six months' time. In April, the university received $27.5 million from Caroline and Sidney Kimmel to support the new home for the Klein College of Media and Communication and the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts. This was the largest gift in Temple’s history prior to Barnett’s commitment on Friday. The commitment from Barnett is also the fourth largest gift that has ever been given to support a college or school of public health.
“At a time when public health is under attack by misinformation and funding cuts, my family and I asked ourselves how we could be part of the solution – and how we could help create the change we wish to see in the world. This gift reflects our belief that education is the most powerful force for progress and that, by strengthening the public health workforce, we can help shape a healthier, more equitable future for all,” said Barnett, who is the founder and chair of ABA Centers, as well as the founder and CEO of ICBD.
For Barnett, the naming gift also represents a full-circle moment. Years ago, when he first applied to Temple, he was denied admission. However, Barnett met with an admissions counselor and pleaded his case, promising to graduate with a 4.0 GPA and give back as soon he was able to do so.
In the years since, he has gone on to launch ABA Centers, which has become the fastest-growing autism care provider in the world and currently provides services to families in more than 60 markets across 12 states and Puerto Rico. The organization employs more than 2,500 team members across the globe and since its founding, it has opened more than 30 autism care centers, including three throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
ABA Centers’ success has gained Barnett considerable recognition. In 2024, he was named the winner of the 2024 Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award. He was the first healthcare provider to win EY’s national overall award.
As Barnett’s career has taken off, he has never forgotten where he came from, and he has never forgotten the promise that he made so many years ago. In fact, Barnett first gifted Temple with $1 million in 2022 to establish the ABA Centers Autism Lab, a multidisciplinary hub that conducts research, trains students, and offers diagnostic services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. He went on to support the university’s on-campus food pantry, now named the Barnett Irvine Cherry Pantry, and in 2024, alongside the School of Social Work, he established Maddy’s Room, a sensory-friendly space for students and faculty.
“Chris’ story is one of the best examples of what it means to be Temple Made,” Fry said. “At Temple and then throughout his career, he has persevered time and time again, and his career path should serve as an inspiration for all of us. I am incredibly grateful to Chris for his generosity and delighted that he continues to be so deeply committed to this university and its future success.”
Mitchell L. Morgan, FOX ’76, LAW ’80, chair of Temple's Board of Trustees, echoed Fry’s sentiments.
“As I have come to know Chris over the last several months, serving together as trustees, I have been impressed with how deeply he cares about Temple and its mission,” Morgan said. “This gift reflects that, as it will have on a positive impact on the Temple community for years to come.”
“This moment marks a new era for our college—one that honors our mission and amplifies our impact. The Barnett College of Public Health will stand as a beacon for changemakers who believe, as Chris does, in the power of opportunity, compassion and perseverance to shape our communities,” added Dean Jennifer Ibrahim.