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Gene Tempel Honored by IU School of Education

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Indiana University Foundation President Gene Tempel is this year’s recipient of the Robert H. Shaffer Distinguished Alumnus Award given by the IU School of Education. The award honors an alumnus who "demonstrates the commitment to excellence in administrative leadership, scholarship, service to the profession, and compassion and concern for students and colleagues, exemplified by the man for whom the award is named." Robert Shaffer, widely considered a pioneer in the field of higher education and student affairs, served as the dean of students at IU from 1955 until 1969 and held joint faculty appointments in the Schools of Business and Education until he retired in 1981.

"I knew Bob Shaffer, first when I was a young student and he was on the St. Meinrad (School of Theology) Board of Overseers, and later when I was a graduate student in the School of Education," said Tempel, who earned both a master’s degree (1973) and a doctorate (1985) from IU. "He was a person that you liked and admired and learned from. You said to yourself, 'I want to be like him.' To be a part of his legacy is an extraordinary and much appreciated honor."