Before a packed crowd gathered at the Temple Performing Arts Center, Temple’s 15th President John A. Fry shared a bold vision for the university’s future.
“By making the most of who we are, Temple not only can become a model urban land grant university, over time we can also become one of the top 10 public urban research universities in the United States,” Fry said.
The statement came during an investiture ceremony formally welcoming Fry last Friday, April 4. [node:sidebar_text]
Fry officially took office on Nov. 1, 2024, and he joins Temple after spending three decades in higher education leadership positions, including roles as executive vice president at the University of Pennsylvania, and president at Franklin & Marshall College and Drexel University.
Standing in the renovated building that was once the church of university founder Russell Conwell, Fry shared his plan for transforming Temple into a top urban research university in the country.
“We must distinguish ourselves in three important areas: student success; discovery, creativity and innovation; and comprehensive, place-based work,” Fry said.
As evidence of the university’s commitment to student success, Fry applauded Temple Future Scholars and Temple Promise, two existing programs that establish pathways to a high-quality education for local students from Philadelphia zip codes. He also recognized Temple’s recent membership in the University Innovation Alliance, a national coalition committed to increasing the number of college graduates in the United States.
“Temple will be a university designed not just to welcome students, but to see them through to graduation,” he said. “This is a promise that will shape how we invest our resources, organize our systems and define our impact. And make no mistake, we will keep this promise.”
Fry plans to advance discovery, creativity and innovation at Temple by building on the university’s strengths in the life sciences and biomedical research, while also establishing leadership in emerging technologies like generative AI.
“Temple is in a strong position to embark on its next chapter of consequential research that will deliver solutions that benefit our community, drive economic growth along the North Broad Street corridor, and save lives,” Fry said.
His third aspiration, place-based work, will focus on strengthening Temple’s connection with the local community. He discussed transforming the neighborhoods surrounding Temple’s campuses through community partnerships, economic development, public safety and the development of a Broad Street innovation corridor linking the health sciences, technology and the arts.
“Put simply, we have a generational opportunity to transform Temple by reimagining its role as a place-based institution,” Fry said. “We can become a full partner in community problem-solving, and an unstoppable force for innovation that seamlessly connects our North Philadelphia campuses and neighborhoods to the entire city.”
To execute his bold vision, Fry said Temple will rely on philanthropy more than ever.
“I will soon announce the largest and most ambitious fundraising campaign in Temple’s history,” he said. “This campaign will run to 2034 when we celebrate Temple’s 150th anniversary.”
He then shared that the campaign is already off to a historic start.
“I am delighted to announce today the largest donation in Temple’s 141-year history, a $27.5 million gift from philanthropists Sidney and Caroline Kimmel, to name the new home for the Klein College of Media and Communication,” Fry said to a standing ovation. He added that the new academic and performance space will be named the Caroline Kimmel Pavilion for Arts and Communication.
Five months into his new role, Fry is optimistic about what the future holds and, most importantly, he’s excited to get to work.
“Temple’s mission is clear, compelling and distinctive. In the five months that I’ve been here, I have witnessed a culture that unapologetically upholds that mission,” he said. “And there is no other place that I’d rather be to do this important work.”