Background
John Anderson Fry was born in Brooklyn, New York City and received an undergraduate degree in American Civilization from Lafayette College.
John Anderson Fry was born in Brooklyn, New York City and received an undergraduate degree in American Civilization from Lafayette College.
He worked in accounting, during which time he received an Master of Business Administration degree from the New York University Stern School of Business.
He is one of the few people who was appointed as a President of a large university without a doctorate. He eventually worked in management consulting, specializing in universities. One of Fry’s clients in consulting was the, and when he worked for the university, Judith Rodin, the then President, hired him as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 1995, a position he held until 2002.
At the he helped develop the “Agenda for Excellence,” a comprehensive strategic plan covering 1996-2001, and implemented a strategy addressing challenges in University City neighborhood to raise property values, reduce crime and attract commercial infrastructure and economic development.
He was instrumental in the gentrification of West Philadelphia. Fry was the president of from 2002–2010.
During his tenure, the average SAT score of students rose by 63 points over 7 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 to begin on August 1, 2010.
He succeeded the interim President C.R. "Chuck" 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 entrepreneurial and creative energies to confront major threats to human health, economic prosperity, and the environment”. And to “ Drexel’s global reputation and impact.”
In 2011, Fry negotiated Drexel"s affiliation with America’s oldest natural history museum, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, creating The Academy of Natural Sciences of In 2012, Fry announced the completion of the Drexel strategic plan for 2012-2017, “Transforming the Modern Urban University.”.
