A generous gift from Nathaniel Irvine will endow a new Impact Center in Paley Hall, expanding student support, career readiness and wellness at Temple.
Made possible by a $1.5 million gift from Nathaniel Irvine, the Irvine Family Impact Center in Paley Hall offers students a space to connect, collaborate and access key resources.
Photo by Andrew Thayer
A $1.5 million gift to the Barnett College of Public Health is helping Temple University create a new space designed to meet public health and social work students where they are—academically, professionally and personally—while providing access to students from across the university.
“We are grateful to the Irvine family for this generous investment in our students and in the continued growth of the Barnett College of Public Health,” said Temple President John Fry. “The Irvine Family Impact Center will provide students with the resources, space and support they need to succeed while strengthening the sense of community and belonging that defines the Temple University experience.”
The Irvine Family Impact Center, made possible by an endowed gift from Nathaniel Irvine and his family, will serve as a new hub in Paley Hall focused on student success, well-being and career readiness. The endowment will provide perpetual funding to sustain the center’s programming and mission. The university recognized Irvine and his family during the center’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 16, marking a major investment in student support.
“I am doing this because I want today’s students to have more opportunities than I did—to grow faster, think bigger and feel more supported as they define their futures,” said Irvine. “If this center helps even one student realize their potential sooner, pursue a path they hadn’t imagined or feel more confident in their journey, then it will have accomplished exactly what it was created to do.”
Located on the mezzanine level of Paley Hall, the Irvine Family Impact Center brings together a wide range of academic, professional and wellness resources in one place. The space is designed to enhance student engagement, support holistic development and foster a sense of belonging, with programming tailored to meet the needs of students at every stage, especially those in their first year.
Inside the center, students can
- Attend advising workshops and student success seminars
- Receive resume support and career planning guidance
- Connect with deans, faculty, librarians and counselors during “Ask an Expert” hours
- Access professional attire through the Career Closet
- Study and collaborate in the Connections Lounge
- Recharge in dedicated wellness spaces, including the Zen Den and Tranquility Room
“This gift from the Irvine family comes at a critical time for our students,” said Jennifer Ibrahim, dean of the Barnett College of Public Health. “Students need intentional spaces like this that create the conditions for them to fully engage, do their best work and build meaningful relationships within the school community. Just as importantly, these spaces help prepare students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world health professions as they enter the field.”
The Irvine Family Impact Center marks another milestone for the college following its recent naming as the Barnett College of Public Health and reflects the Irvine family’s continued philanthropic support of the university. In 2023, Irvine joined University Trustee Christopher M. Barnett, CLA ’10, in donating a $300,000 gift to Temple’s Cherry Pantry, which was renamed the Barnett and Irvine Cherry Pantry commemorating its five-year anniversary.