About this Event
Join us on Thursday, October 15th to hear from guest speaker John Fry, President of Temple University.
John Fry took the helm as Temple University’s 15th president in 2024, bringing with him extensive experience as a civic leader in Philadelphia and a national leader in higher education.
Under his leadership, Temple has launched Temple Future Scholars, a college pipeline program that supports low-income, first-generation-to-college students in Philadelphia public middle schools. Temple is also expanding its neighborhood partnership efforts through a Community Gateway resource center and an innovation corridor on Broad Street.
The university also acquired Terra Hall, the former main academic building of the University of the Arts, establishing a core Center City presence. In March 2025, Temple joined the distinguished University Innovation Alliance (UIA) as its Pennsylvania institution. The UIA is a leading national coalition of public research universities committed to increasing the number of college graduates in the United States, and Temple is one of just 18 universities to join the organization.
Prior to his arrival at Temple, President Fry served as president of Drexel University from 2010 to 2024, where he elevated the university’s global presence through academic and research partnerships, major NIH and NSF research programs, as well as hubs for innovation and collaboration. 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 public schools.
In 2019, Drexel and Tower Health acquired St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, thereby ensuring that St. Christopher's would 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. President Fry spurred the creation of Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion mixed-use development on Drexel’s campus, and he also oversaw historic mergers with Salus University and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Before joining Drexel, he served as president of Franklin & Marshall College from 2002 to 2010 and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2002. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Fry graduated from Lafayette College and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business.
Fry and his wife, Cara, an art historian, have three children. Mia, an attorney at the Center for Public Representation in Massachusetts, and her husband, Professor Evan Dethier, are parents to baby Grey. Nat runs his own business making fine furniture for residences and commercial establishments, and Phoebe is a videographer, musician and model.
_____________________________________________
Stay Connected with PCCP
We invite you to stay engaged with the Philadelphia Committee on City Policy by signing up for our email list, becoming a paid member for lunch discounts, or considering a donation of any amount to support our all-volunteer forum for a better Philadelphia.
_____________________________________________
It's that time of year to renew your PCCP membership! for the 2026–27 season and continue enjoying member benefits, including lunch discounts.
PAYMENT OPTIONS: After you register below, you will see options for making your payment by credit card, check, or payment at the door.
HONOR SYSTEM: Only members are allowed to purchase a MEMBER ticket. Become a member today! Click here.
Event venue & nearby stays
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks, 1 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.