A Conversation with Christopher Borden
We sat down with the new president of the Temple University Alumni Association (TUAA) to discuss his vision and goals as the organization prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
By Matt Michaels
As the Temple University Alumni Association celebrates its 100th anniversary this fiscal year, it also welcomes a new president, Christopher Borden, FOX ’08. Succeeding outgoing president Amy Larovere, KLN '83, Chris recently sat down with us to discuss his Temple journey, his vision for the alumni association and what gives him optimism for the university’s future.
The following Q&A has been condensed for clarity and conciseness.
What brought you to Temple for undergrad?
I wanted to be in a city. Most of my closest friends went to Penn State, but I knew that wasn’t the right fit for me. I was born in New York City and went to high school in the Poconos, so I wanted to stay in-state, and tuition was a major factor. Choosing Temple was the best decision I ever made.
How did your Temple experience shape your career and personal life?
One of the best things about Temple is that it encourages hard work. Students come from many different backgrounds, not just culturally, but financially as well. I worked while I was in school, and Temple helped me develop strong time-management skills.
That translated directly into my career. I found my first job after graduation through Temple’s FoxNet system in 2008, and more than 18 years later, I’m still with that same company. Temple taught me to be ambitious, hardworking and efficient with my time, and those qualities have been central to my success.
You’ve remained very involved as an alum. What keeps bringing you back?
Temple was good to me, and I try to give back in return. It’s important to me to help strengthen Temple’s reputation, not only within my network of financial and estate planning professionals, but also among clients across the country and around the world. I believe the alumni association is one of the best ways to support that mission and continue building the Temple brand.
What makes the Temple alumni community unique?
Temple’s alumni base reflects the diversity of its student body. That diversity extends beyond culture to include financial backgrounds, life experiences and career paths. Temple also offers a very different college experience than a traditional college town. You’re immersed in a major city from day one. That environment creates a certain resilience and ambition among students and alumni.
When I attended from 2004 to 2008, Temple was transitioning from a commuter campus to a more residential campus. Many of us experienced that transformation firsthand, and I think it helped create an alumni community that’s hardworking, determined and proud of where we came from.
What role can alumni play in helping current students succeed?
Building and strengthening the Temple brand is important, but mentorship is equally important. I’ve helped place interns and recent graduates both within my company and elsewhere. That’s one of the greatest strengths of a strong alumni network. We have more than 385,000 alumni, and we need to continue creating opportunities for students and recent graduates.
It’s important for students to understand that a Temple degree is an advantage, not a hindrance, when entering the workforce. The college experience has also changed dramatically since the pandemic. Alumni can help bridge the gap between prepandemic and postpandemic experiences, offering guidance on everything from hybrid work environments to professional expectations.
What motivated you to pursue the alumni association presidency?
I saw firsthand the impact the alumni association can have on both students and alumni. As I became more involved, first on the finance committee, then as treasurer, and later as vice president, I saw how meaningful that work could be.
People often join organizations for networking, but networking only works when you’re genuinely invested. You can’t simply collect business cards or LinkedIn connections. You need to care about the organization and the changes you want to help create.
Serving as president provides an opportunity to make that impact on a broader scale. I’m fortunate to have a strong leadership team around me, and that continuity will be important moving forward.
What lessons have you learned from outgoing president Amy Larovere?
I’ve worked closely with Amy for several years, both within the alumni association and through other Temple-related initiatives. One of the most important things I learned from her is empathy. I tend to be direct and focused on efficiency, while Amy brings tremendous compassion and understanding to leadership.
She taught me the importance of listening, building connections and being mindful of the needs of people across the university community. That perspective has made me a better leader. I’ve also admired her ability to expand the alumni association’s presence while aligning its work with President Fry’s vision and the university’s strategic priorities. She’s done an outstanding job connecting those pieces together.
What’s your vision for your presidency?
My primary goal is to improve the effectiveness of the alumni association. Sometimes less is more. Just because we’ve always done something a certain way doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. We need to make sure we’re using our time, resources, volunteers and staff as effectively as possible.
Universities face budget and staffing constraints, and as volunteers, we need to maximize our impact. My focus will be on execution, making sure the strategic plans we’ve developed translate into meaningful action and measurable results.
What’s your pitch to alumni who aren’t currently involved?
Two words: Come back.
Come back to campus. Come back to the Temple community. Whether it’s through a committee, an affinity group, volunteering, mentoring or attending events, there’s a place for everyone.
The campus has changed dramatically over the years, and many alumni are amazed when they return and see how much has evolved. Reach out to the alumni association. We’ll help connect you with opportunities that match your interests. Every alum who becomes involved helps strengthen Temple’s future.
What makes you optimistic about Temple’s future?
Higher education faces real challenges, including budget pressures, demographic shifts and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Despite those challenges, I believe Temple is exceptionally well-positioned because of its value proposition. When you look at the quality of the education, the strength of the degree and the cost relative to many other institutions, Temple continues to offer tremendous value. I work with families on education planning all the time, and the numbers consistently reinforce that perspective. A Temple degree carries weight across industries, whether in healthcare, law, finance or many other fields.
As long as we remain focused on our mission and avoid complacency, I believe Temple’s future is very bright.
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