Students, faculty gather to meet Fry
Naomi Parikh
Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: News
John Fry addressed Drexel University students, faculty and administrators at the University Assembly March 10, after being named Drexel University's 14th president. His family, as well as Interim President C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni, were present at the event.
According to Board of Trustees Chairman Richard Greenawalt, Fry was named president in a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees.
Fry, currently the president of Franklin & Marshall College, said he was "deeply honored" and "humbled" to be chosen for the position and thankful for the confidence of the Board of Trustees and the search committee, who "made a rigorous process feel also like a homecoming."
Fry also paid tribute to his "dear friend" and "generous mentor" Constantine Papadakis, the former president of Drexel, who died last spring.
"I have so much to be grateful for … to follow in the footsteps of a giant, 'Taki' Papadakis, and to take the tongs from one of Drexel's most important leaders, Chuck Pennoni," Fry said. " … To be entrusted with the educational experience of a group of incredibly talented undergraduate and graduate students, who will one day be leaders in their communities, both here in the United States and around the world."
Fry discussed Papadakis' contributions to Drexel, saying he gave the University a "great, great gift" and inspiration to expand Drexel's role in the community.
"Taki gave us … 14 years of strong, inspired and determined leadership … that have prepared the University in every way: academically, reputationally, financially and physically," Fry said. "And I will do everything that I can to build on his magnificent work and on the talents of this great University."
Fry said Drexel's "deep roots" in cooperative education and experiential learning, as well as a commitment to civic engagement, are qualities that appealed to him. He also highlighted Drexel's research programs as a key component of the University's progress, citing the University's research on autism, an "alarming and painful societal problem."
According to Board of Trustees Chairman Richard Greenawalt, Fry was named president in a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees.
Fry, currently the president of Franklin & Marshall College, said he was "deeply honored" and "humbled" to be chosen for the position and thankful for the confidence of the Board of Trustees and the search committee, who "made a rigorous process feel also like a homecoming."
Fry also paid tribute to his "dear friend" and "generous mentor" Constantine Papadakis, the former president of Drexel, who died last spring.
"I have so much to be grateful for … to follow in the footsteps of a giant, 'Taki' Papadakis, and to take the tongs from one of Drexel's most important leaders, Chuck Pennoni," Fry said. " … To be entrusted with the educational experience of a group of incredibly talented undergraduate and graduate students, who will one day be leaders in their communities, both here in the United States and around the world."
Fry discussed Papadakis' contributions to Drexel, saying he gave the University a "great, great gift" and inspiration to expand Drexel's role in the community.
"Taki gave us … 14 years of strong, inspired and determined leadership … that have prepared the University in every way: academically, reputationally, financially and physically," Fry said. "And I will do everything that I can to build on his magnificent work and on the talents of this great University."
Fry said Drexel's "deep roots" in cooperative education and experiential learning, as well as a commitment to civic engagement, are qualities that appealed to him. He also highlighted Drexel's research programs as a key component of the University's progress, citing the University's research on autism, an "alarming and painful societal problem."
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