Endowed professorship created in honor of former Northwood president
In some big academic news, Northwood University is pleased to announce Dr. Dale Matcheck has been appointed the David E. Fry Endowed Professor in Free Market Economics.
“Dr. Fry was the ‘man behind the wheel’ driving Northwood University’s progress for many years,” stated Northwood President Kent MacDonald about David E. Fry, who was Northwood’s president and CEO from 1982 to 2008. “And it’s upon the strong foundation set by Dr. Fry that Northwood today is building an even brighter future.”
With the support of generous donors, Northwood established the David E. Fry Endowed Professorship, which will embody Northwood University’s economics program principles and basic truths that:
• The world’s wealth is not fixed but can be increased.
• Free people can best create wealth useful to all and enabling to the humanity of all the world’s people.
• Individual choice, responsibility and initiative are requisite for a vibrant society.
• Differences make us useful to each other so rewarding creative differences must be the goal of a productive society.
• Education is rooted in the practical considerations of free markets and the spiritual nourishment of all its people.
Dr. Fry started his career as an economics professor with a focus was on business, global economics and free markets. As president, he focused on creating an environment where this passion could be passed on through generations of students.
“Dr. Fry’s legacy is vast, and includes leading this institution from an institute to a university with a graduate with a graduate school,” stated Kristin Stehouwer, provost and academics vice president. “And more than 23,000 students earned degrees and proudly graduated from Northwood while Dr. Fry was leading from the helm.”
Stehouwer noted Dr. Matcheck mirrors Dr. Fry’s personal passion and love for education.
“Dr. Matcheck is the perfect person to fulfill the vision for the David E. Fry Endowed Professorship in Free Market Economics given the body of work throughout his career and his commitment to free market economics.”
Dr. Matcheck earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and his doctorate from Cornell University. He began teaching at Northwood in 1995, and chairs the Economics Department.
Dr. Matcheck said this appointment has special meaning for him because of the two names he associates most closely with it.
“The first, of course, is Dr. Fry, for whom the endowment is named; and the second is Dr. Timothy G. Nash, the first one to hold the endowed professorship,” Dr. Matcheck explained. “Their tireless service to Northwood University and their effective communication of its ideals have had a lasting impact on generations of students. Both were also generous enough to serve as mentors to me during my formative years as a young college professor. I hope to continue in the tradition of intellectual leadership and service that they began.”
Donors who value liberty, the American free-enterprise system, and creating leaders who drive economic and social progress considering their own gift to Northwood University may visit our Donate page or contact Northwood’s advancement office at (989) 837-4356.
