Temple University acting president JoAnne Epps died Tuesday after collapsing on stage at a memorial service for a Temple scholar. Philadelphia JoAnne Epps Temple Universitys acting president dies after falling ill on campus Epps was named interim president in April. Epps who was previously Temple Universitys former law school dean and provost and had been a member of the faculty since 1985 has been. Longtime member of Temple faculty and leadership Richard Englert was named interim president then with the interim tag removed. Temple Universitys board of trustees tapped insider JoAnne Epps to serve as interim president yesterday..