John Fry

John Fry

Board Member | President, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

John Fry, a Class B director, was appointed the 15th president of Temple University in 2024, effective November 1.

From 2010 to 2024, Fry served as the 14th president of Drexel University. Under his leadership, Drexel set a national example for the successful execution of public-private partnerships and became a powerful force for economic development in the Greater Philadelphia region. He championed major neighborhood revitalization initiatives, including the creation of a multifaceted university extension center in Mantua — the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships — extensive economic development efforts, and significant partnerships to support local neighborhood schools. In 2019, Drexel and Tower Health acquired St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, thereby ensuring that St. Christopher's will remain a source of health and healing, medical education and research, and jobs and economic benefit for its North Philadelphia neighborhood and the broader region. Fry spurred the creation of Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion mixed-use development on Drexel’s campus. Prior to Drexel, he was president of Franklin & Marshall College and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania.

Fry is currently on the board of the Kresge Foundation, which invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. He is also on the boards of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and Lafayette College. He was the founding chairman of the University City District and was chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia for two years. Fry has a master's degree in business administration from the NYU Stern School of Business and is a graduate of Lafayette College.

Committee Assignments

• Executive Committee
• Management and Budget Committee
• Nominating and Governance Committee

District member banks elect three Class A directors to represent banking and three Class B directors to represent the public; the Board of Governors appoints three Class C directors to represent the public, including the chair and deputy chair of the board.

Term ends on December 31, 2025.