Temple NEST is an enterprise center of Temple University Harrisburg.  The University is organized into academic colleges, schools, and departments. Apart from this structure, there is also a special structure known as University College.  University College was created to provide support for the several satellite campuses; viz., Center City, Fort Washington, Ambler, and Harrisburg.  The challenge is to keep the satellite campuses on par with the academic offerings of main campus, as much as possible.  Temple NEST is component of University College.
     
     In 2007, the School of Social Work wished to develop a research infra structure at the Harrisburg campus.  This was largely upon the initiative of the late David Zanis, Associate Professor.  To advance this objective, the School hired Barry Nazar as Research Assistant Professor.  His mission was to add to the teaching of research and evaluation and also pursue project funding for research pertinent to the field of social work.

     The primary strategy used by Barry Nazar, and David Zanis as mentor, is to write grants on behalf of schools and nonprofit agencies.  In each grant proposal, some evaluation plan or applied research component is included.  If the project is awarded funding, the nonprofit receives the funding and carries out the project.  They also subcontract to Temple for conducting the evaluation, or applied research.  It is a win-win arrangement for the community and Temple University.  The success of this effort required some kind of organized entity for coordinating funds and activities.  That entity was the Temple NEST -- Nonprofit Evaluation Services and Training.

     In 2009, the School of Social Work was reorganized and became part of the College of Health Professions.  The Temple NEST was organizationally relocated to University College.  Barry Nazar was also relocated to University College as Senior Research Associate and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Education and Social Work.  The transition is appropriate to the mission of University College.  The Temple NEST provides research infra structure to all the graduate programs at Temple Harrisburg;  viz., College of Education, School of Social Work, Community Planning, and Public Health.

     As the Temple NEST successfully expanded operations, graduate students began participating in projects at a level beyond their regular coursework.  Other persons from the community also began to participate in projects and brought with them an ever-expanding repertory of interests and skills to carry out projects.  The result was and is a community of dedicated colleagues interested in advancing the arts and science of community well being.  This website is dedicated to them and their stories.  Each is given a space to create their own narrative to share their discoveries, concerns, and whatever they feel might enrich the rest of us.

     Come back often.  This is a dynamic site that grows at the whim of many bright minds and passionate hearts.