John A. Fry ‘78 Elected new President of Drexel University John A. Fry ‘78, who was most recently the president of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and a former University of Pennsylvania executive, is Drexel University’s new president. He defies the traditional college president model: He does not have a doctoral degree, has never been a dean or provost, and has not taught or conducted research. But he has spent his career in higher education, including an 11-year turn as a consultant to colleges and universities, helping them with organization and finances. He also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2002. During that time, he had a leadership role in Penn’s successful neighborhood revitalization.
At Franklin and Marshall, a 2,200-student liberal arts college, Fry used many of the same strategies. They built a new complex for the life science and philosophy departments, a coffeehouse and bookstore in the center of campus, and a writer’s house and international center. Several dormitories also were converted into academic/social/living quarters, and a five-story complex with 130 apartments and retail areas was built. He recently was featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education for the reclamation and planned redevelopment of an industrial site. The article was titled “The College President as Urban Planner.” The 22,000-student Drexel University includes medical and business schools and a graduate campus in Sacramento, CA. The new president also will inherit Drexel’s challenging $500 million capital campaign, now in its second year. Fry has a bachelor’s degree in American Civilization from Lafayette College in Easton, PA, and a Masters in Business Administration from the Stern School of Business at New York University. We wish John continued success in his new endeavor!
Excerpts from an article written by Susan Snyder, Inquirer Staff Writer
1978 Maureen Ardiff-Cooke has been happily married to her husband, Sean, for 22 years and they have beautiful twins. In addition to various volunteer services and being the twins’ personal chauffeur, Maureen writes the “On The Rise” column in the New York Mets’ program. She also does free-lance administrative services for several clients. MaryLee Gaffney-Yamasaki and her husband, Pat, moved to Northern Virginia in 1998. Pat is the head of the Tech Ops at the company he works for and MaryLee works in Human Resources for a company specializing in global partner networks in aerospace and defense organizations.
Chrysa M. Sandewicz-Smith just released her second children’s book in her series, “The Adventures of the Poodle Posse”. The early reader series has received a Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in juvenile fiction. Visit the website: www. wellbredbook.net Thomas J. Sexton is currently the organist and director of music at St. Kevin’s Church, Auburndale and the Saturday evening organist at St. Josaphat’s in Bayside. He is also a freelance trumpeter. Tom is living in Bayside and has two great sons. 1979 Alice K. Harrison-McGowan married Kevin McGowan in 1988 and has been blessed with three great boys!
John R. Edwards is working on his black belt in Taekwondo and his goal is to have it by December 2010. Brian G. Kontos is an executive chef and is living in Arizona. He has been happily married for 14 wonderful years to his wife, Roxane, and they have four boys. 1980 Richard D. Waitkus is enjoying life in Las Vegas with his wife, Cindy, and their three boys. He looks forward to seeing friends from St. Francis who travel to the area.
Corps in 1965 and joined the NYC Transit Police. Arthur earned a Bachelors degree in Special Studies from St. Francis College in 1980. He retired in 1988 and continued working as a manager in the private sector until 2004. He is currently enjoying retirement. Mona Poulas lives in Carmel, NY with her husband and two daughters. She holds an accounting degree from C.W. Post and an MBA from Pace University. Mona is working at a CPA firm in Brewster. Nancy M. Zollner-Ferraris was married to Mark Ferraris in June 1990 and they have three daughters.
Arthur J. Tremblay joined USMC in February 1961. He left the Marine
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