Drexel University selects John Fry as new president
Drexel University has announced its new president. 49-year-old John Fry will take over a university that saw tremendous growth under its previous leader the late Constantine Papadakis. Fry has served nearly eight years as president of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster and is a former University of Pennsylvania executive.
Drexel University has announced its new president. 49-year-old John Fry will take over a university that saw tremendous growth under its previous leader the late Constantine Papadakis.
WHYY’s Megan Pinto has more. [audio:100310MPDREXEL.mp3]
Fry has served nearly eight years as president of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster and is a former University of Pennsylvania executive.
He replaces Drexel president Constantine Papadakis who died in April of complications with lung cancer during his 14th year as president. Fry says he hopes to keep his legacy alive.
Fry: What he did was forge an entirely new direction for an already great institution and I don’t think about filling Taki’s shoes, the metaphor is to take the big baton that he created and grab it and try to keep the pace up, if not gain a little bit of ground in addition.
Fry says his tenure at Drexel will focus on strengthening the school’s endowment, expanding its research enterprise and creating more global outreach opportunities.
He officially takes his post as president on August 1.
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