Peter J. Liacouras, American academic, Died at 85

  Educator

Peter James Liacouras was born on April 9, 1931, and died on May 13, 2016.

He was an American academic.

Peter was the President of Temple University from 1981–2000.

Liacouras was also a former Dean of the Temple University School of Law (1972–1982).

Peter served has been chancellor of Temple University since his retirement in 2000.

In his presidency, the University developed into a Carnegie I classification institution, expansion of academic programs globally, growth in undergraduate enrollment and considerable infrastructure development.

Liacouras’ tenure was marked by substantial focus on urban economic and social development.

Aiming to capitalize on the University’s location in north central Philadelphia, he sought to market a vision of Temple as the quintessential working class university that would also increasingly appeal to working class suburbanites from the metropolitan Philadelphia area and South Jersey.

Peter employed creative marketing strategies—notably, a marketing campaign with a tagline of “we could have gone anywhere—we chose Temple”, and featuring alumnus and Philadelphia native Bill Cosby (later elected to the Temple Board of Trustees).

Peter J. Liacouras passed away at 85 yrs old.