John Anderson Fry

John Anderson Fry was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on May 28, 1960, and received an undergraduate degree in American Civilization from Lafayette College.{{cite web|url=http://www.drexel.edu/president/JohnFry/biography/|title=Biography|year=2013|publisher=Drexel University|accessdate=March 11, 2013}} He worked in accounting, during which time he received an MBA degree from the New York University Stern School of Business. He eventually worked in management consulting, specializing in universities.{{cite web|date=March 5, 2008 |title=A College President Whose Credentials Stress Taking Care of Business |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/nyregion/05face.html?_r=2& |first=Alan |last=Finder |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 11, 2013}}

One of Fry's clients in consulting was the University of Pennsylvania and, when he worked for the university, Judith Rodin, then president, hired him as executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1995, a position he held until 2002. At the University of Pennsylvania he helped develop the "Agenda for Excellence", a comprehensive strategic plan covering from 1996 to 2001, and implemented a strategy addressing challenges in University City neighborhood to raise property values, reduce crime and attract commercial infrastructure and economic development.{{cite news|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/inq/college-president-john-fry-urban-planner-20160518.html|title=College president as urban planner|author=Susan Snyder|date=May 15, 2016|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}

Fry was the president of Franklin & Marshall College from 2002 to 2010. During his tenure, the average SAT score of students rose by 63 points over seven years, the ratio of students to faculty was lowered to 10:1, and the college created a faculty-led, student-governed College House system.

On March 10, 2010, he was designated as the 14th president of Drexel University effective on August 1, 2010.{{cite news|date=March 10, 2010 |title=Drexel names Fry new president |url=http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/03/08/daily28.html |first=Kelly |last=Johnson |work=Sacramento Business Journal |accessdate=March 14, 2010}} He succeeded the interim president Celestino Pennoni, who served since the death of the 13th president Constantine Papadakis.

Fry's inaugural address set an early agenda featuring three major objectives: to make Drexel "one of academe's most powerful engines for neighborhood improvement and regional economic growth"; to "mobilize [Drexel's] entrepreneurial and creative energies to confront major threats to human health, economic prosperity, and the environment"; and to "[maximize] Drexel's global reputation and impact."{{cite web|date=April 14, 2011 |title=Inauguration Speech |url=http://www.drexel.edu/president/messages/speeches/inauguration/ |publisher=Drexel University |accessdate=March 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307180056/http://www.drexel.edu/president/messages/speeches/inauguration/ |archivedate=March 7, 2013 }}

In 2011, Fry negotiated Drexel's affiliation with America's oldest natural history museum,{{cite web|year=2013 |title= About Us | url=http://www.ansp.org/about/| publisher=Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University |accessdate= March 5, 2013}} The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, creating The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.{{cite news|date=May 19, 2011 |title=Academy of Natural Sciences to become Drexel subsidiary |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/05/19/academy-of-natural-sciences-to-become.html?page=all |first=Peter |last=Van Allen |work=Philadelphia Business Journal |accessdate=March 11, 2013}} In 2012, Fry announced the completion of the Drexel strategic plan from 2012 to 2017, "Transforming the Modern Urban University."{{cite web|year=2012 |title= Transforming the Modern University |url=http://www.drexel.edu/strategicplan/ |publisher=Drexel University |accessdate=March 11, 2013}}

Fundraising efforts have increased recently under Fry with great success. Recent gifts include $45 million from Dana and David Dornsife for the Dornsife School of Public Health and $50 million from Thomas R. Kline for the Kline School of Law. Faculty and staff participation rates in fundraising campaigns have also increased from 12 to 62 percent.{{Cite news|url=http://drexel.edu/president/john-fry/biography/|title=Biography – Office of the President|work=Office of the President|access-date=March 5, 2018|language=en}}

Fry is active in local and national matters of education and urban economic development. He served from 2014 to 2017 as a member of the board of directors of the American Council on Education. Fry was the founding chairman of the University City District and served a two-year term as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, leaving the post in 2018.

Fry wore doctoral regalia at university ceremonies{{cite news|date=December 12, 2016 |title=Drexel Headed Back to the Ballpark for Commencement |url=https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2016/december/commencement-plans |first=Ben |last=Seal |work=Drexel News |accessdate=February 22, 2023}} before receiving an honorary doctorate from Gratz College in 2019.{{cite news|date=May 22, 2019|title=President Fry Receives Honorary Degree, Addresses Graduates at Gratz College Commencement |url=https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2019/may/president-fry-receives-honorary-degree-addresses-graduates-at-gratz-college-commencement |first=Alissa |last=Falcone |work=Drexel News |accessdate=February 22, 2023}} Fry received a 26.9% salary hike as per sources within a year.{{Cite web |last=Ruka |first=Kejsi |date=2024-02-16 |title=President John Fry's salary moves up the rankings |url=https://www.thetriangle.org/news/john-fry-salary/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=The Triangle |language=en-US}} His leadership coincided with scandals related to misuse of federal grants{{Cite web |last=Almasy |first=Steve |date=2019-10-08 |title= Drexel to pay back $190,000 former professor used for strip clubs, other personal purchases over 10 years |url= https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/08/us/pennsylvania-drexel-professor-strip-club-money/index.html |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=CNN |language=en-US}} and the dismissal of tenured faculty due to public reaction to their tweets.{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Sarah |date=2017-12-29 |title= Drexel professor resigns after months-long investigation, exile from campus |url= https://www.thefire.org/news/drexel-professor-resigns-after-months-long-investigation-exile-campus |website= Foundation for Individual Rights in Education |access-date=2024-09-27 |language=en-US}}

Fry and his wife Cara, an art historian, have three children.

Fry is also an avid squash player in his free time and the sport has thrived on campus under his leadership. Since 2011 the US Squash Open has been held on Drexel's campus in the Daskalakis Athletic Center.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usopensquash.com/about/|title=The U.S. Open|date=May 8, 2011|work=U.S. Open Squash|access-date=March 5, 2018|language=en-US}} Fry was also chair of the board of directors for US Squash from 2013 to 2016, and was instrumental in bringing the US Squash Open to Drexel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ussquash.com/about/board-of-directors/|title=US SQUASH {{!}} Board of Directors|website=www.ussquash.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 5, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ussquash.com/drexel-president-fry-elected-us-squash-chairman/|title=US SQUASH {{!}} Drexel President Fry elected US SQUASH Chairman|website=www.ussquash.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 5, 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.drexel.edu/fry John A. Fry at Drexel University]
• [https://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2012/01/25/this-college-president-is-a-game-changer/ This Forbes College President is a Game Changer]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/business/colleges-debt-falls-on-students-after-construction-binges.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Building a Showcase Campus, Using an I.O.U]

{{Temple University presidents}}

{{Drexel University presidents}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Lafayette College alumni

Category:New York University Stern School of Business alumni

Category:1960 births

Category:Presidents of Franklin & Marshall College

Category:21st-century American academics

Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society

Category:Presidents of Temple University