Last modified: Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Indiana University applauds choice of Neil Theobald as president-elect of Temple University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 7, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University congratulates Neil Theobald on his appointment today as the next president of Temple University in Philadelphia. Theobald assumes his new role on Jan. 1, 2013.
Theobald, who joined IU in 1993 as an associate professor of educational finance in the School of Education, has served as chief financial officer since July 2007 and was named senior vice president in October 2011.
Theobald is a recognized expert on educational finance who has long been a strong voice for educational affordability and academic excellence at IU. As CFO, he has led a comprehensive effort to control the university's spending through increased operating efficiencies. At the same time, the university has elevated the quality of its faculty and attracted some of the best students in its history, prompting a number of educational publications to recognize IU as one the best values in U.S. higher education in recent years.
Theobald also has been a passionate advocate for the need to reduce student debt. His office has led a number of initiatives to help students lower their debt loads and better understand the implications of borrowing, including the university's new Office of Student Financial Literacy announced in June.
"Neil is one of the leading minds in educational finance and educational policy in the United States and has made invaluable contributions to Indiana University's continuous quest to provide a world-class education at an affordable cost," IU President Michael A. McRobbie said. "Neil's innovative thinking and forthright working style, traits that will serve him extremely well in his new role, have helped guide the university through a challenging period of declining state support and prolonged economic weakness.
"Indiana University and the state of Indiana owe Neil a great debt for his outstanding service over the past two decades. Personally, I will miss Neil's wise counsel and his friendship, and I have no doubt that Neil will make a superb college president."
Theobald earned praise from the IU Board of Trustees, with whom he has worked closely in his current role.
"Neil understands the nuances of higher education finance and sees the issues clearly and in context. His skills have been important to our decision making," said Board of Trustees President William R. Cast. "Neil has served the university exceptionally well and he will be missed. Temple is fortunate to be gaining such an accomplished thinker and leader."
Theobald, who still holds a professorship in the IU School of Education and has been active as an academic researcher, also received high marks from the university's faculty leadership.
"Neil Theobald has made valuable contributions to Indiana University," said Carolyn Calloway-Thomas, professor of communication and culture in the College of Arts and Sciences and president of the IU Bloomington Faculty Council. "Working with faculty, he has played a major role in promoting Indiana University's academic mission, and he has helped chart the course in our sustaining efforts to make the university more accessible and affordable."
Details of the search process to identify Theobald's successor will be released in the near future.
