Drexel University Board Names F&M's John A. Fry as the University's 14th President

PHILADELPHIA, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Drexel University's Board of Trustees named John A. Fry as the University's 14th president today after a unanimous vote, announced Chairman Richard A. Greenawalt. Fry is currently president of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. and a former University of Pennsylvania executive. He will begin his tenure at Drexel on August 1.

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"John Fry's entrepreneurial spirit, practical experience and strong sense of vision and leadership mirror Drexel's core values and are essential in continuing the University's upward trajectory," said Greenawalt. "His impressive record of success at both Franklin & Marshall and the University of Pennsylvania will help seamlessly position Drexel for the future."

The naming of Fry as Drexel's president comes after a nationwide search that began in July 2009. Led by the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer, the search for Drexel's new president began shortly after the death of Constantine Papadakis, who died during the 14th year of his tenure. A search committee was formed to represent a cross-section of constituencies. C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni, former chairman of the Board of Trustees and Drexel alumnus, has served as Drexel's interim president since April 2009.

"I am thrilled to succeed Taki Papadakis, who zeroed in on Drexel's strengths and enhanced its status as a comprehensive research university," said Fry. "I'm also grateful to my friend Chuck Pennoni for doing a masterful job guiding Drexel during the interim. Because of their leadership, Drexel is an incredible place today, and I look forward to being part of its future.

"Franklin & Marshall College has prepared me for this next chapter of my career and I am indebted to that community, especially the Chair of the Board Dale Frey, the strong and committed Board of Trustees, an exceptionally talented faculty, a dedicated staff, and the students who make all our work worthwhile. Although I am excited to return to Philadelphia, I cherish my time in and ties to Lancaster."

Since joining Franklin & Marshall College as president in July 2002, Fry was instrumental in the college's academic growth, campus development and improved finances. Through his initiatives, he raised the College's national profile and brought a renewed confidence to the institution. During his tenure, the quality of the student body improved, as measured by a 63-point gain in average SATs over seven years. He dramatically improved residential life through the creation of a College House system. The student-to-faculty ratio was lowered to 10:1, with a commitment made to hire 40 new faculty members. Franklin & Marshall's curriculum was updated and expanded in life sciences, computer science, creative writing and modern languages. Faculty salaries were brought to the median of the College's competitors. Under his leadership, the College made a long-term strategic move to increase its financial aid to attract and enroll highly qualified students. Fry forged new partnerships with the city and neighbors, improving the surrounding business economic district and neighborhoods.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_&_Marshall_College

Fry has served higher education since early in his professional life. He worked closely with some of the nation's premier colleges and universities, first with KPMG Peat Marwick in its educational consulting practice, and then with Coopers & Lybrand's National Higher Education Consulting Practice, where he was elected a partner in the firm and rose through the ranks to become partner-in-charge of the national education practice.

Fry, as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Pennsylvania, was a major force in developing and implementing Penn's "Agenda for Excellence," a comprehensive plan that guided Penn's strategic initiatives from 1996 to 2001.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Fry studied American Civilization at Lafayette College and received the George Wharton Pepper Prize, the highest honor awarded to a graduating senior. He was awarded an honorary degree by Lafayette College in 2008. In 1986, he earned a master's in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. Fry and his wife, Cara, have three children: Mia, Nathaniel and Phoebe.

As Drexel's 14th president, Fry will oversee a university that underwent transformational growth under Papadakis. Drexel rose in the rankings, becoming one of the top 100 of Best National Universities in "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report. The University also ranks fourth among national universities in the recently established U.S. News list of "Schools to Watch." The university now includes a medical school, nursing college, and school of public health. Drexel in 2006 opened the first law school by a research university in 25 years. In January 2009, Drexel opened a Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento, California.

SOURCE Drexel University