Honoring Peter J. Liacouras.

WHEREAS, Temple University is one of the nation's largest academic centers of education, medical research, health services, and public service, with a world-renown faculty, nearly 30,000 students, an annual budget of more than $1 billion, 210,000 alumni throughout the world, and exceptional educational programs that span the globe; and

WHEREAS, Peter J. Liacouras has been President of Temple University for an unprecedented 18 years, a record unrivaled among the chief executives of institutions of higher education throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Peter J. Liacouras has served for 28 consecutive years in high administrative office at Temple University, and he is in his 37th year as Professor of Law; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of President Liacouras, Temple University has experienced a historic period of enormous growth in construction projects, including The Liacouras Center, The Tuttleman Learning Center, Temple University Children's Medical Center, three new student residence halls, and two student recreation centers; and

WHEREAS, Temple University has achieved national prominence as a model public research university during the Liacouras years; and

WHEREAS, The Liacouras presidency has been characterized by the continuous pursuit of excellence, the opening of the university to persons from historically underrepresented groups, a hard-nosed commitment to fiscal responsibility; improved community relations, and far-reaching academic improvements; and

WHEREAS, Because Peter J. Liacouras clearly understood that the futures of the City of Philadelphia and Temple University are inextricably linked together, he led efforts for an extraordinary capital investment by the University and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Temple's Main Campus, which has helped spur additional investments by the City, the federal government, and the private sector in the revitalization of North Central Philadelphia; now therefore

RESOLVED, That City Council congratulates Peter J. Liacouras for his remarkable leadership and his sterling legacy that will be deeply appreciated by future students and the citizens of Philadelphia and the region for many years to come.

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