New UM-Flint interim chancellor values community partnerships, transparency in role

FLINT, MI – Donna Fry went from being an engaged faculty member to a versatile administrator to now interim chancellor of the university she calls home.

Her career path has been largely dominated by the yellow Block M logo after earning each of her three degrees at the University of Michigan: a bachelor’s degree and certificate in physical therapy, a master’s degree in kinesiology and a Ph.D. in kinesiology.

Fry, appointed on Aug. 17, now takes on the role of leading the university during a transitional period.

UM-Flint is currently undergoing a strategic transformation to identify how the institution fits in a changing landscape of higher education.

Positive discussions with University of Michigan President Santa Ono about UM-Flint’s strategic position put her ahead of other candidates for the interim role, Fry said.

“I was only interested in (interim chancellor) if we continue on this plan for the transformation of our campus,” Fry said.

The transformation, which is now back on after being “paused” by Ono after Deba Dutta’s departure, immediately becomes a priority for Fry.

“That is the expectation, now that I’m in this interim phase, that I can keep moving forward in their planning process,” Fry said.

Fry called Dutta, who is moving on to the University of Illinois, a “visionary” in the strategic transformation process that started under his leadership.

The strategic transformation committees are working with the Board of Regents to get questions answered after the change in leadership. The board requested more metrics and benchmarks to measure success.

Fry is “seriously considering” applying for the full-time chancellor position while a nationwide search is being conducted, she told MLive-The Flint Journal.

Early in her career, Fry chaired the chancellor’s advisory committee as a faculty member before gaining responsibility and becoming the director of the physical therapy department.

Fry’s spent time working in various administrative roles at the college, including associate dean and dean, a position in which she remains the longest standing.

As the College of Health Sciences dean, her broad role in the campus community helped prepare her for this position, she said.

“It’s not like a school that’s very focused on one plan or something, so I think that reach has helped me prepare,” Fry said. “I’m also a very civically minded person. I really strongly and passionately feel that UM-Flint needs to be out in the community and serving this community.”

Fry serves on four boards in the community — the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Genesee Health Plan, Ascension Genesys Foundation and the McFarlan Charitable Corporation, a senior service organization.

Similar to the emphasis former Chancellor Deba Dutta put on community partnerships when interviewed about the strategic transformation, Fry said becoming more engrained in the Flint and Genesee County communities is crucial to success.

“I want us to be the supplier of the workforce for this area and the state,” Fry said. “Many of our students go beyond that too, but I see us needing to be very interactive in that process of providing workforce.”

The chancellor appointment was a crowning achievement in her long career working with the University of Michigan.

“When it first struck me that I might be considered, … my stomach was in knots because I thought, ‘Oh gosh, if I am asked, you know, can I step up and take that?’ So that was my first reaction,” Fry said.

After some thought and discussions with Ono, Fry realized the opportunity to advance the university she’s spent years at.

“I love this university. I love this city and I’m really excited,” Fry said.

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