John Fry is the president of Temple University and the former president of Drexel University. He was the 14th president of Franklin & Marshall College, and served from 2002 to 2010.

Fry earned his bachelor's degree in American civilization from Lafayette College and his MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.  

As F&M’s president, Fry reshaped the campus, strengthened residential life and the student experience, expanded the faculty, and championed an outward-looking, community-engaged philosophy that still guides the College today. 

Under his leadership, F&M launched its distinctive College House system, built a new residence hall, and hired 40 new faculty, leading to the institution’s current 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio. Fry also spearheaded the strategic acquisition of land adjacent to the north end of F&M’s campus, a move that cleared the way for the development of Shadek Stadium and the College’s premier multipurpose playing fields. By partnering with Lancaster General Health, he further evolved the area into an important educational-medical corridor.

At F&M, Fry’s vision helped set the foundation for a thriving, collaborative relationship between the College and the City of Lancaster — one that continues to grow. He helped launch the James Street Improvement District, which led to economic redevelopment, as well as additional housing for students. He engaged city and community leaders and worked to make city revitalization a priority for the College.

His contributions as the president of Drexel University and Temple University reflect the same dedication to innovation, engagement, and excellence that left a lasting mark on F&M’s campus. He is a nationally recognized educational leader and a tireless innovator, and is an elected member of the American Philosophical Society, a scholarly organization founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743.

John Fry, for your many, exceptional efforts to strengthen F&M’s high-impact liberal arts curriculum; for your work in shifting F&M’s long-term view outward, upward, and toward a brighter future; for your commitment to growing and improving F&M’s physical campus; and for your consistent and indefatigable resolve to improve the educational landscape for America’s youth at F&M, Drexel and Temple, Franklin & Marshall College bestows upon you the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.