Story by Kim Fischer, CLA ’92
Photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg, CLA ’14
Earlier this fall, Temple University’s College of Public Health (CPH) moved into a new home. Formerly spread across 11 buildings on both the Main and Health Sciences Center campuses, CPH welcomed a unified space centrally located across from the university’s iconic Bell Tower, with the opening of the 306,000-square-foot LEED- and WELL-certified Paley Hall.
And now, the college has a new name as well.
On Friday, Oct. 10, during the official grand opening ceremony for the newly renovated and reimagined Paley Hall, Temple President John Fry announced that University Trustee Christopher Barnett, CLA ’10, had committed $55 million to support CPH. It is the largest gift in Temple’s history and in recognition of Barnett’s generosity, CPH will be known as the Christopher M. Barnett College of Public Health.
“Today, I am thrilled and deeply moved to announce that Chris Barnett has just made a $55 million gift to the College of Public Health, the largest gift ever to Temple University,” Fry said to the crowd of several hundred in attendance. “The word philanthropy comes from the Greek, meaning ‘love of humankind.’ Chris’ gift is a true expression of that love. It will create many more opportunities for students to join the vanguard of future healers, researchers and leaders across the health sciences and professions.”
For Barnett, the gift is a bold statement in support of the mission of Temple University and the College of Public Health, casting a spotlight on what Temple University represents: opportunity, equality and a commitment to making the world a better place.
“At a time when public health is under attack by misinformation and funding cuts, my family and I asked ourselves how we could be part of the solution—and how we could help create the change we wish to see in the world,” said Barnett in his remarks. “This gift reflects our belief that education is the most powerful force for progress and that, by strengthening the public health workforce, we can help shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
(Left to right) President John Fry, Barnett College of Public Health Dean Jennifer Ibrahim and Board Chair Mitch Morgan, FOX ’76, LAW ’80, (far right) expressed gratitude for the groundbreaking gift from Christopher Barnett (second from right) in their remarks at the grand opening of Paley Hall.
A full-circle moment
When Barnett applied to Temple for transfer acceptance as a student with a GED and a few community college credits in the early 2000s, the university took a chance on him. And he never forgot it.
In a true story that is now legendary at the university, after initially receiving a denial of admission, Barnett flew up from Fort Lauderdale and camped out in the office of the director of transfer admissions, waiting for an opportunity to plead his case.
His vow to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, become a prominent alum and give back to the university convinced the office to reverse their decision, and Barnett set out to see his pledge reach fruition.
“He has made good on that promise and then some,” explained Fry when he announced Barnett’s transformational gift.
Though Barnett’s path to Temple was unconventional, he quickly became a top student, earning his bachelor’s in political science with minors in economics and general business studies in 2010. He later obtained a law degree from Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University.
Over his career, he has held various positions in real estate and healthcare businesses and in 2019, he founded ICBD Holdings—a company that “invests in companies and initiatives that disrupt industries, enhance communities and sustain profitability.”
In 2020, he launched the Fort Lauderdale-based ABA Centers, which today provides autism care and services for families in more than 60 markets across 13 states and Puerto Rico, with three of its centers located in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
What sets ABA Centers apart is its ability to reduce the time a child must wait to receive a diagnosis or care. With autism affecting 1 in 31 children in the U.S. and early diagnosis being critical for treatment, ABA Centers’ success has garnered considerable recognition for Barnett. In 2024, he was named the winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award—the first healthcare provider to be recognized as such.
Grounded in commitment
The current gift is an extension of Barnett’s years of involvement with the university. In 2022, he created the ABA Centers Autism Lab with a gift of $1 million to conduct research, train students and offer diagnostic services to patients even if they can’t pay. He also supported Temple’s on-campus food pantry, the Barnett Irvine Cherry Pantry, and in 2024, helped launch Maddy’s Room, a sensory-friendly space for students and faculty.
“Chris has always been incredibly generous, but this gift is a powerful demonstration of his support of higher education, public health and our students,” says Jennifer Ibrahim, dean of the Barnett College of Public Health. “He understands the difference giving can make, and I hope this inspires others.”
A large portion of Barnett’s recent gift— $20 million specifically—will provide additional support to the ABA Centers Autism Lab.
“Chris understands the difference giving can make, and I hope this inspires others.”
—Jennifer Ibrahim
Dean of the Barnett College of Public Health
(Left to right) Jerry Leva, vice president for planning and capital projects; Morgan; University Trustee Tiffany Wilson, CST ’01, CPH ’03; and Barnett joined members of the Temple community who gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the 306,000-square-foot LEED- and WELL-certified Paley Hall, the new home of the Barnett College of Public Health.
Also receiving funding through the gift is a new universitywide initiative to address challenges that undermine academic performance and retention. Targeted to fully open in fall 2026, the Christopher and Julie Barnett Essential Needs Hub will centralize and integrate services and resources to provide support for students in a variety of areas, including food, housing, clothing, transportation security, mental health support, benefits navigation, case management, and emergency and legal aid.
“There are students just like me who are showing up at Temple, whose paths are uncertain and who may need just a little help,” he says. “My goal is to use my resources to make a difference for these students. If we can change the course of their futures, it will change the world if we do this right.”
Supporting the liberal arts
A portion of Barnett’s gift will also endow the deanship at the College of Liberal Arts. Moving forward, Richard Deeg, dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), will hold the new position known as the Christopher M. Barnett Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University.
At the discretion of the Christopher M. Barnett Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the gift will be used to support academic programs, student support and success initiatives, faculty development, and research projects.
“What I am particularly proud of is how Chris’ Temple story started here in the College of Liberal Arts,” says Deeg. “His incredible success illustrates how CLA helps produce socially aware citizens equipped with skill sets that can adapt to just about any field. It is truly an honor that CLA’s deanship will now bear Chris’ name.”
“There are students just like me who are showing up at Temple ... and who may need just a little help. If we can change the course of their futures, it will change the world if we do this right.”
—Christopher Barnett, CLA ’10
University trustee
A legacy of purpose
Flashback to the morning of Oct. 10 … as Barnett prepared for his day, he recalled how one year, each of his five daughters presented him with socks for Father’s Day, and he reached for a particular pair.
To anyone who knows Barnett, the socks he picked that day should come as no surprise.
In a powerful reminder of the journey that brought him to this point, he chose the socks given to him by his daughter Madison.
“Maddy has autism,” Barnett explains. “Despite my resources and owning healthcare companies, my wife and I could not get a diagnostic appointment, nor could we get access to services.
“At a certain point, I looked at my wife and said, ‘Our daughter deserves better. And the countless other kids and families impacted by autism deserve better. And I think with the infrastructure that I have, I can do it better,’” Barnett adds. “That’s the origin story.”
Whether it’s through supporting children and families with healthcare challenges, helping college students achieve their goals of obtaining a top-notch college education, or transforming the future of public health, Barnett’s focus is always on service. “Seek to help others first,” he advises Temple students. “Look at how much benefit you can offer and do so with humble servitude. If you do that, my experience is that the world opens up to you.”
In Barnett’s case, as the saying goes, the apples don’t fall far from the tree. As his three oldest daughters—Kaitlyn, SSW ’25; Kennedy, Class of 2026; and Madison—follow in his footsteps, they carry forward his values. (Barnett’s youngest girls are toddlers.)
The search to find care for his daughter, Madison, inspired Barnett to open ABA Centers.
Fox School of Business student Kennedy Barnett (left) and Kaitlyn Barnett (right), who is enrolled in Temple’s master of public health and master of social work programs, aim to carry on their father’s legacy of philanthropy and service.
Kaitlyn, currently enrolled in Temple’s master of public health and master of social work programs, references the family’s commitment to philanthropy when discussing her father’s recent gift. “Our family foundation prioritizes five pillars: advocating for women’s empowerment, ensuring stable housing, alleviating food insecurity, fostering opportunities for underprivileged children and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities,” she explains. “We’re trying to cover all of them with this gift.”
And, for the Barnett sisters, it’s about more than money. Kaitlyn and Kennedy both volunteer their time at the campus food pantry that bears the family name. “It’s important to us to be there to support the next generation of Temple students who are ambitiously trying to gain a first-class education and change their future.” Kennedy, a Fox School of Business student majoring in entrepreneurship and innovation management, agrees. She recalls visiting Temple as a prospective student because it was her dad’s alma mater and recognizing right away how special Temple is. “There’s nothing else like it,” she says.
“That’s why we want our support of Temple to be generational. This is one of many gifts we anticipate giving in the years to come,” Kennedy adds. “We’re proud to be part of this community.”
In fact, it might be that the legacy of service Barnett has left to his daughters is his biggest gift of all.
“My dad always tells us that we get to curate our own futures,” shares Kennedy. “If you want to see change, he says you can’t just sit on the sidelines, you have to be active in making that happen.”
Maddy nods: “When I see the impact that ABA Centers has had on children and their families and I think about the impact this gift will have …
“I’m proud of my dad.”
Related News
Deanship at College of Liberal Arts endowed
As part of a gift that Christopher M. Barnett, CLA ’10, committed to Temple University, Richard Deeg, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, will hold the new position known as the Christopher M. Barnett Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University.
Temple’s new Christopher and Julie Barnett Essential Needs Hub launches its first phase
Targeted to fully open in fall 2026, this centralized hub has begun serving the university community as staff and services moved to the new space in the lower level of the Howard Gittis Student Center.
