The View from Main: Winter/Spring 2019

John Fry Headshot

I am so impressed when young Drexel graduates hit the ground running, and each year’s “40 under 40” list provides new and inspiring examples — as you will discover in this issue of Drexel Magazine. From my perspective, learning about the many paths taken by our alumni also reaffirms the steps your alma mater is taking to better prepare tomorrow’s graduates.

Our approach is rooted in the classroom and lab, as well as the workplace and in our neighborhoods — as you might expect from a university that excels in experiential learning.

Since the Drexel co-op is career-making for so many of our students, we are always looking for ways to grow the ranks of corporate and nonprofit partners who make possible these experiences. At the same time, we want to encourage entrepreneurship at every turn. Both goals are wrapped up in our plans for Schuylkill Yards, which is coming together now, just outside 30th Street Station. Look for the dedication this spring of a beautiful new public park, Drexel Square, the centerpiece of the new development and the first major construction project. Meanwhile, the gene therapy startup, Spark Therapeutics, will be the first anchor tenant at Schuylkill Yards, creating 500 new jobs at the refurbished Bulletin Building at 3025 Market Street.

I see great potential for co-op placements and startup ventures at Schuylkill Yards. In the meantime, the $750 million Campaign for Drexel offers exciting possibilities to support student success, research discovery and innovation, teaching and learning, and other University priorities. This is a campaign that is squarely focused on human capital — specifically, student scholarships, endowed faculty chairs and academic program funds. We reached $500 million in August, less than a year following the Campaign’s public launch, and we can thank many alumni and friends for helping us make such great strides.

I hope you join me in sharing the excitement about Drexel’s overall progress and momentum, and the Campaign. Congratulations to our “40 under 40” alumni, and thank you for your continued support.