Editing Drexel University (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Drexel University}}

===19th century===
[[File:Anthony J. Drexel by Moses Ezekiel (1844-1917) - Drexel University - IMG 7320.JPG|thumb|[[Anthony J. Drexel (Ezekiel)|Statue of Anthony J. Drexel]] by [[Moses J. Ezekiel]], which was completed in 1904 and moved to the Drexel campus in 1966]]
[[File:Drexel Main Building c.1892.jpg|thumb|The Main Building, dedicated in 1891]]
[[File:US-PA(1891) p731 PHILADELPHIA, ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES.jpg|thumb|Academy of Natural Sciences (in structure built in 1876) as it appeared in 1891 in its present location but a prior edifice<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ansp.org/about/academy-history/ | title=History | date=December 12, 2017 }}</ref>)]]
[[File:Drexel Main Building int.jpg|thumb|The interior of Drexel University's Main Building as seen in 2023]]
[[File:Clock sculpture - Drexel University - IMG 7332.JPG|thumb|Monumental conical pendulum clock by [[Eugène Farcot]] and sculpture by [[Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse]], which was donated to the university in 1912]]
Drexel University was founded in 1891 as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry by [[Anthony J. Drexel]], a [[Philadelphia]] financier and philanthropist. The original mission of the institution was to provide educational opportunities in the "practical arts and sciences" for women and men of all backgrounds.

Drexel can now trace its roots to 1812 as in 2011 Drexel took over the management of what is now named [[Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University]]<ref>{{cite web |year=2011 |title=The Academy of Natural Sciences and Drexel University Announce a Historic Affiliation |url=http://www.ansp.org/about/academy-drexel-affiliation.php |access-date=2011-10-24 |publisher=Academy of Natural Science}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Peter Van |date=2011-05-19 |title=Academy of Natural Sciences to become Drexel subsidiary |work=Philadelphia Business Journal |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/05/19/academy-of-natural-sciences-to-become.html |access-date=2011-10-24}}</ref> which Academy was formed in the winter of 1812.<ref name="Nolan 1909">{{Cite book|last=Nolan|first=Edward James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slkSAAAAYAAJ&q=%22academy+of+natural+sciences%22+history&pg=PA1|title=A Short History of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia|date=1909|publisher=Academy of Natural Sciences|language=en}}</ref> In April 1817, the legislature of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania incorporated the organization under the name "Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGY7AQAAIAAJ&q=Academy+of+Natural+Sciences+1817&pg=PA385|title=The Annals of Philosophy|date=4 November 2017|publisher=Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy.|via=Google Books}}</ref>

===20th century===
In 1936, the institution was renamed as the Drexel Institute of Technology. It eventually gained university status and was finally named Drexel University in 1970.<ref name="History"/>

Despite changes during its first century, the university has remained a privately controlled, non-sectarian, coeducational center of higher learning committed to practical education and hands-on experience in an occupational setting. The central aspect of Drexel University's focus on career preparation, in the form of its cooperative education program, was introduced in 1919. Participating students alternate periods of classroom-based study with periods of full-time, [[Internship|practical work experience]] related to one's academic major and career interests.

Between 1995 and 2009, Drexel University underwent a period of significant change to its programs, enrollment, and facilities under the leadership of Dr. [[Constantine Papadakis]], the university's president during that time. Papadakis oversaw Drexel's largest expansion in its history, with a 471 percent increase in its endowment and a 102 percent increase in student enrollment. He oversaw improved performance in collegiate rankings, the implementation of a more selective approach to admissions, and a more rigorous academic program at all levels. In 2007, Drexel was the host of the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate debate in Philadelphia, televised by [[MSNBC]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 23, 2007 |title=Drexel Univ. To Host Presidential Debate |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drexel-univ-to-host-presidential-debate/ |first=LeAnne |last= Matlach| publisher=CBS |access-date=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

===21st century===
In 2002, Drexel University acquired and assumed management of the former Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP) Hahnemann University, creating the [[Drexel University College of Medicine]]. In 2006, the university established the [[Thomas R. Kline School of Law]], and in 2011 the School of Law achieved full accreditation by the [[American Bar Association]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earlemacklaw.drexel.edu/about/ABA_accreditation/ |title=Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law ABA Accreditation |access-date=December 2, 2011 |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022163921/http://earlemacklaw.drexel.edu/about/ABA_accreditation/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Constantine Papadakis]] died of pneumonia in April 2009 while still employed as the university's president. His successor, [[John Anderson Fry]], was previously the president of [[Franklin & Marshall College]] and executive vice president of the [[University of Pennsylvania]].<ref name="fry">{{cite web|url=http://www.drexel.edu/president/JohnFry/|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111019141156/http://www.drexel.edu/president/JohnFry/biography/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 19, 2011|title=Drexel University Office of the President: Meet John Fry|access-date=December 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fandm.edu/past-presidents/john-fry |title=Past Presidents: John Fry |access-date=December 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112093452/http://www.fandm.edu/past-presidents/john-fry |archive-date=January 12, 2012  }}</ref>

Under Fry's leadership, Drexel has continued its expansion, including the July 2011 acquisition of [[The Academy of Natural Sciences]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2011-10-27|title=Drexel And Academy Of Natural Sciences Announce Merger|url=https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/10/27/drexel-and-academy-of-natural-sciences-announce-merger/|access-date=2021-05-21|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, Drexel has acquired [[Salus University]] which has multiple programs in health related fields.<ref>{{cite web |title=Drexel and Salus Universities |date=June 6, 2023 |url=https://drexel.edu/about/salus |access-date=July 12, 2024}}</ref>

Fry announced his resignation in July 2024 to become President of [[Temple University]] upon the death of acting President [[JoAnne A. Epps|JoAnne Epps]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Philadelphia's Temple University Hires John Fry as Its President From Neighboring Drexel |date=July 3, 2024 |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania/articles/2024-07-03/philadelphias-temple-university-hires-john-fry-as-its-president-from-neighboring-drexel |access-date=January 17, 2025 |work=USNews}}</ref> Denis O'Brien is appointed as interim president until Fry's successor, [[Antonio Merlo]], assumes the presidency on July 1, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mattia |first=Sophia |date=2025-01-31 |title=Drexel University announces new president-elect Antonio Merlo |url=https://www.thetriangle.org/news/drexel-university-announces-new-president-elect-antonio-merlo/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Triangle |language=en-US}}</ref>