Executive Vice President John Fry will leave Penn at the end of the academic year to fill the Franklin and Marshall College presidency, officials from the Lancaster, Pa.,school announced yesterday.
Fry officially accepted the school's top post in a ceremony at F&M; yesterday afternoon, where he addressed members of the college's community.
"I am deeply honored to be selected as the 14th president of Franklin and Marshall College," Fry said in his first public address to that college community.
Fry has been at Penn since 1995, when University President Judith Rodin appointed him as Penn's chief operating officer. His responsibilities have included managing the University's finances and investments, as well as improving facilities, overseeing community initiatives, supervising the Division of Public Safety and expanding area retail and real estate initiatives.
At F&M;, he will replace Richard Kneedler, who announced last April the he would be stepping down after serving as president for 14 years.
Fry, who withdrew from consideration for the University of Vermont presidency near the end of January, said that a combination of opportune circumstances influenced his decision to take the position as F&M;'s next president.
"This seems like the perfect situation for me. Franklin and Marshall is an academic institution that's in great shape, it's in the general Philadelphia area and I want the opportunity to have direct contact with faculty and students at all times," Fry said. "You put it all together, and it seems like the perfect next step."
Prior to coming to Penn, Fry was a partner at Coopers and Lybrand, a management consulting firm. There, he worked extensively with colleges and universities across America, including Penn.
Fry, one of four finalists in contention for the UVM presidency, said last month that he withdrew from consideration for that position for professional and personal reasons.
"This is a great loss to the University, but it is an incredible opportunity for John," Rodin said in a statement. "As Franklin and Marshall's 14th president, John will take the helm of a wonderful liberal arts college with a long distinguished history."
Rodin said that so far she had not constructed a timetable for finding Fry's replacement, although she mentioned that the impending vacancy will be an item of discussion at the Board of Trustees meeting later this week.
Doreen Boyce, the chairwoman of the F&M; Board of Trustees, expressed her excitement to have Fry, noting his devotion to learning.
"John Fry is passionate about higher education," Boyce said. "He will work with the trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni to help this college create new goals and lift this fine college to greater heights."
Boyce stressed Fry's experience as both an administrator in higher education and an educational consultant as primary reasons for his selection. Moreover, she emphasized Fry's commitment to the "liberal arts tradition," tracing his educational roots back to Lafayette College, where he majored in American civilization.
"John's experience and commitment will allow the college to achieve new levels of accomplishment in its academic experience, in financial support and in building enduring links with the Lancaster community," Boyle said.
Fry's position at Penn, however, has largely focused on the administrative, not academic, side of the University. Over his six years as executive vice president, Fry focused heavily on retail projects -- like luring a movie theater and diner to campus -- as well as improving relations with the surrounding West Philadelphia community.
Fry was also responsible for the development and implementation of some aspects of the Agenda for Excellence, a five-year formula aimed toward the improvement of the University's financial status, physical state and national ranking. Additionally, he has recently been involved with drafting the follow-up to the Agenda, the Strategic Plan.
Fry has also been instrumental in neighborhood revitalization initiatives, establishing community partnerships, bringing retail to the area and reducing crime rates. Under his tenure, Penn helped found the University City District, of which he is presently chairman.
He established a task force to clean up the 40th Street corridor between Spruce and Walnut streets and has lured a number of high-profile businesses -- including the Freshgrocer and the stores at Sansom Common -- to campus.
Additionally, Fry has served as chief executive officer for P2B, a Penn subsidiary that helps fund and incubate faculty and student business ventures.
