Temple school to be named for broadcast exec Lew Klein

Temple University's School of Media and Communication will be renamed in honor of longtime adjunct professor and prominent broadcasting executive Lew Klein, the
university announced Wednesday.

The Lew Klein College of Media and Communication will be formally dedicated this spring. The announcement coincides with Klein's receiving a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Television Program Executives in Miami on Wednesday.

Klein taught at Temple for more than six decades and he and his wife, Janet, recently made a multimillion-dollar gift to the school, which was supported by two additional seven-figure contributions from Temple trustees, Steve Charles, '80, and H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest and his wife, Marguerite.

The university declined to release the specific amounts of the gifts. Klein helped launch the careers of NBC anchor Matt Lauer, CBS Evening News executive producer Steve Capus, and the late host and producer Dick Clark. He had been executive producer for the American Bandstand program and was program director of Channel 6 in Philadelphia when it launched its Action News format.

"Lew is the rare benefactor whose service to our school extends beyond his generous financial support to include decades of teaching and mentoring, both of Temple students and of working professionals," said David Boardman, dean of the school, with more than 3,000 students and 250 full and part-time faculty. "Naming the school to recognize all of his contributions is our honor."

— By Susan Snyder