The gift from Jack and Monica Pinkowski will lead to the creation of the Jack and Monica Pinkowski Endowed Scholarship, which will provide opportunities for students to study at Temple Rome. The gift will also endow and name The Temple News editor-in-chief position, which will now be known as the Edward Pinkowski Editor-in-Chief.
John DiCarlo, managing director of student media and the Claire Smith Center for Sports Media; Sienna Conaghan, the first-ever Edward Pinkowski Editor-in-Chief of The Temple News; and Jack and Monica Pinkowski.
Photo by Betsy Manning
Jack Pinkowski, CLA ’68, has built a successful career in real estate, written four books, and spent 18 years sharing his knowledge as an associate professor of public administration at Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
But, if you ask him where the foundation for his success was built, he will take you back to the 1960s and North Broad Street when he was attending Temple University and serving as a photojournalist for The Temple News student newspaper and Templar Yearbook.
“My wife and I made our living by investing in real estate and managing real estate. But we had our education and an intellectual curiosity to where we would go out and find things, and then find solutions,” Pinkowski said. “That is what journalism does for you. It enables people to develop a curiosity that allows them to succeed in all aspects of life. Today, I think anyone who spends time on the staff of The Temple News can benefit from building curiosity, learning to ask important questions and then forming a nucleus of information that can be expanded upon based on facts.”
Now, Pinkowski and his wife Monica Pinkowski are paying it forward by making a $1.25 million gift to Temple University that will both support The Temple News and student journalists as well as create scholarships for students to attend Temple Rome. Both Jack and Monica Pinkowski operated businesses with international footprints and recognize how global experiences are key in helping students develop cultural competencies.
“I am deeply grateful to Jack Pinkowski and Monica Pinkowski for this very generous gift and investment in Temple Rome and The Temple News,” President John Fry said. “What makes me especially excited about this gift is how students are at the center of it, which aligns closely with our strategic plan, Forward with Purpose. Because of the Pinkowskis’ generosity, students who might never have had the opportunity to visit Temple Rome will now do just that. The gift will also enhance our award-winning student newspaper, The Temple News, which is already a hallmark of the journalism program within our Klein College of Media and Communication.”
A total of $1 million from the gift will be used to establish the Jack and Monica Pinkowski Endowed Scholarship, which will provide opportunities for students to study at Temple Rome, expanding access to international travel, learning and cultural experiences. Through the gift, the largest in Temple Rome’s history, the university will award scholarships of up to $10,000 per academic year to eligible students to attend and study at Temple Rome.
The remaining $250,000 will endow and name The Temple News editor-in-chief position, which will now be known as the Edward Pinkowski Editor-in-Chief. This is the first endowed named student position in The Temple News’ history, and with the gift, the newspaper will be able to purchase better equipment, increase staff salaries and provide additional travel opportunities for student reporters.
Perhaps no one understands the significance of the gift better than Sienna Conaghan. A senior journalism major from Montana, Conaghan was just named The Temple News’ editor-in-chief in late April. The new title did not last for long though as she will now serve as the first-ever Edward Pinkowski Editor-in-Chief.
“I love The Temple News, and it has defined my college experience, so I am just so grateful to the Pinkowskis and also honored to be the first person to hold this title,” Conaghan said.
“This gift is really setting students up for success,” Conaghan added. “It will allow us to continue putting out high-quality content and expanding our photo section with new equipment as the funds we receive will be used to enhance the student experience. It also has the potential to be a game changer as we will be able to raise staff salaries. There are instances where students cannot contribute to The Temple News because they need to get another job, and this can change that. It’s just great all around.”
The endowed position has been named for Jack Pinkowski’s father, Edward Pinkowski. A distinguished historian, author and journalist, Edward Pinkowski founded a newspaper in the suburban neighborhood of Bridgeport.
“When my father got to Bridgeport, they didn’t have a local newspaper. So, he established the newspaper in Bridgeport, and he also started writing history books about Valley Forge focused on the people and area. All the skills that he put to use were skills that he learned through the journalism field,” Jack Pinkowski said. “We need skilled journalists today, now more than ever. This gift is our way of doubling down on the need for that.”
Enhancing cross-cultural experiences
The lion’s share of the Pinkowskis’ gift will support the Jack and Monica Pinkowski Endowed Scholarship, a cause that is also deeply personal to the couple.
Each Pinkowski previously operated a business with global ties. Jack Pinkowski worked as an international importer of furniture while Monica Pinkowski imported gourmet foods to service restaurants throughout the country.
“Understanding different cultures is important, and the experiences that we had in this area helped shape us both,” Monica Pinkowski said. “We all should work to better understand other cultures and be accepting of differences, and that is what cross-cultural experiences can do for a person. That is what students can get out of attending Temple Rome.”
The Pinkowskis are also personally familiar with Temple Rome after having taken part in Temple Rome’s Adult Study Abroad Program in 2024.
“We were blown away,” Monica Pinkowski said. “Being there and seeing Temple Rome was just amazing, and that is part of how I developed my affinity for Temple. This scholarship will be a terrific way to connect Temple to new students who might not have the chance to pursue a Temple education otherwise.”
The establishment of the Jack and Monica Pinkowski Endowed Scholarship also comes at an opportune time. In September 2024, Temple Rome opened its new campus at Piazza di Spagna, one of the most notable landmarks in the Eternal City. And, this fall, for the first time in its 60-year history, Temple Rome will also offer four-year degree programs.
“I am extremely grateful to Jack and Monica for their generosity and their vision. Temple Rome provides a truly transformative experience for students of all ages, as we have witnessed with our undergraduate, pre-college and adult learning programs,” said Emilia Zankina, dean of Temple Rome and vice provost for global engagement. “Jack and Monica’s support opens the door to students who are in need, but most importantly who are curious about other cultures and eager to expand their intellectual horizons, immersing themselves in a different world. And what a world it is—Rome is a truly magical place that blends modern and antique, fast pace and la dolce vita, people from many cultures—as we know, all roads lead to Rome. A heartfelt thank you to two amazing individuals and philanthropists with a vision.”