With Red October in full swing, students from Temple’s Fox School of Business gathered in Alter Hall on Monday, Oct. 6, for a fireside chat with two part-owners of the Philadelphia Phillies, Temple Board of Trustees Chair Mitchell Morgan, FOX ’76, LAW ’80, and fellow alum Stanley Middleman, FOX ’76. 

Following an introduction from Dean of the Fox School and the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Chip Hunter, Middleman—founder, president and CEO of Freedom Mortgage—moderated the conversation with Morgan. 

Before a packed auditorium of more than 100 students, faculty and staff, Middleman and Morgan discussed their shared experiences as first-generation students, how their Temple education shaped their careers, the importance of resilience and the value of giving back. 

After earning his law degree at Temple, Morgan began his career as an accountant. 

“I was always a numbers person,” he said. “I learned a lot about what I wanted to do and what I didn’t want to do.” 

Morgan went on to become a leader in multifamily property ownership and management. Today, his company, Morgan Properties, is the third-largest real estate investment and management firm in the United States. He worked his way through Temple as a first-generation student, inspired in part by lessons from his father, who owned local shoe stores. 

“My father went bankrupt twice when I was growing up,” Morgan recalled. “I learned a lot about what he did right and what he did wrong. I worked my way through college in one of his stores.” 

Morgan credits his success to his Temple education. “I couldn’t have done what I’ve done without coming to Temple,” he said. “It really changed my life—and that’s why I continue to come back.” 

Middleman reflected on education as a lifelong journey. “Education is about how things work,” he said. “It gives you the opportunity to learn how to learn. Within these walls is something precious—the chance to understand new things and using what you’ve learned as you move forward.” 

Morgan also shared how he reconnected with Temple after a 20-year absence when then-Board Chair Howard Gittis, HON ’97, invited him to campus. 

“‘We think you’re a ‘Temple Made’ person,’ he told me, ‘And we’d like you to give back,’” Morgan said. “I took him up on that offer to walk the campus again and meet students—and here I am.” 

Morgan, who joined the Board of Trustees in 2002 and has served as chair since 2019, encouraged students to think about how they can one day give back. 

“There are three things I want you to remember,” he said. “First, you get a great education at Temple. Second, Temple students are gritty—resilient—and grit is important in school and in life. And third, when you’re successful, come back and give back.” 

Middleman pointed out the building on the corner of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue that bears Morgan and his wife’s names, and Mitchell noted the irony. 

“We made a gift for the Morgan Residence Hall,” Morgan said. “It’s symbolic of me never living here during my eight years as a student because I commuted. But we want Temple to be a school where students live on campus, and I wanted to be part of that.” 

Both Middleman and Morgan spoke about the personal rewards of philanthropy. “You get back more than you give,” said Middleman. 

“I want to have a meaningful presence in this world,” Morgan added. “It’s not about having your name on a building—it’s about what happens inside that building. I want to help Temple reach the next level and be a good example for my children and grandchildren.” 

Their stories resonated with students in attendance. 

“As a first-generation student myself, I really related to Mitchell Morgan’s story,” said Sofia Kostarelos, a junior in the Fox School. “I feel like I’m on the same track that he was on because I’m studying finance and real estate and currently preparing for the LSAT. I want to further my education like he did.” 

While Morgan shared insights about how he grew his business over time with his accounting background and by establishing partnerships with joint ventures, he also reflected on challenging times like the collapse of the U.S. housing market and Great Recession that followed from late 2007–mid 2009. 

“I lost a lot of sleep during that time,” he said. “I didn’t want to go bankrupt like my father. But I trusted the fundamentals and made educated decisions.” 

As a leader in the mortgage industry, Middleman reflected on this period as well and how building confidence helps to persevere during challenging times. 

“You need to have a deep, fundamental belief in yourself,” said Middleman. “If you don’t believe in you, who will? Building your achievements will give you the confidence to focus on the issues that confront you,” he said.  

As the conversation neared its conclusion, Middleman challenged students to start planning for what comes next. 

“Picture your future,” he said. “You always need to be thinking about what’s happening next. The leaders who are successful are spending time thinking about tomorrow, not spending all their time living in today. My hope for you is that you can look at your life and see what you want next and be able to work toward that and make it meaningful.” 

Morgan closed with his own advice: “You will get there,” he said. “I learned from everyone I met along the way. Keep your head down; keep your ego in check. What you do for the next generation is so important.”