As a proud Drexel alumnus and longtime University Trustee, I have long enjoyed reading this flagship publication. As we navigate shifting tides in higher education, it’s even more important to appreciate the ways Drexel continues to transform lives and shape the future for the better. This magazine helps us do just that.
This past fall, we bade farewell to our transformative president of 14 years, John Fry, who has begun the next chapter of his career in higher education leadership, and we launched a search for his permanent successor. In the meantime, I am honored to serve as interim president.
As I told the University community during my remarks at Convocation: I care deeply for Drexel and I am grateful for the impact this institution has had on my life. I am working closely with Executive Vice President and Nina Henderson Provost Paul Jensen and Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer Helen Bowman, among other University leaders, to press ahead on Drexel’s exciting plans that include achieving a sweeping Academic Transformation to position our institution for long-term success, leadership and impact. We are redesigning our curriculum, integrating our schools and colleges into pillars of interdisciplinary collaboration and expertise, and shifting to a semester calendar. These changes and more will exponentially increase the value of a Drexel education in a rapidly changing world. The University will become nimbler and more flexible for students, and more competitive in higher education’s evolving environment. This Academic Transformation will also strengthen our relationships with industry and civic partners to bolster our capacity and reputation for solving society’s problems.
I especially want to reassure alumni that our hallmark co-op program will grow even stronger under Academic Transformation. We will create more opportunities for experiential learning, too, including plentiful options for studying abroad. Our most valuable asset for managing change and achieving Academic Transformation is our Drexel community of faculty, students, alumni and professional staff. With all of us rowing in the same direction, I am confident Drexel will emerge from this transformation better than ever.
Denis P. O’Brien
Interim President