Temple University recently received one of its largest donations ever, and is using the generous gift to create a new honors college, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The gift was given by Jane Creamer Sullivan, however the size of the gift has not been disclosed. Sullivan is the daughter of Temple’s College of Engineering founder, and also co-owned Sullivan Construction Co. with her late husband, Thomas J. Sullivan.
As a result of the new gift, Temple will be establishing the new Jane Creamer Sullivan and Thomas J. Sullivan Honors College. It is expected to open in fall 2027.
The creation of a new honors college is part of Temple President John Fry’s strategic plan.
“An honors program — as good as it is — it is not an honors college,” Fry said. “I think it levels the field. It allows us to take a fresh, contemporary start at making an honors college that is really very specific to Temple and I think is going to give us a big leg up, because we’ll learn from the success of these other honors colleges and hopefully do them one better.”
The goal is for the honors college to help Temple compete with other large universities across the region.
Read more about Temple’s large gift and plans for its new honors college in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA.Today in April 2026.
