If the world is going to change, leaders like Chris Frye ’10 will be the ones to change it. Frye became the youngest mayor of New Castle, Pa. following his election last November. Frye, an AfricanAmerican Republican in a majority Democratic city, knew he had to overcome a number of obstacles to win the executive post. But he explained that facing daunting challenges was nothing new for him.
Looking back on his days as a student, Frye remembers that “there was never a question about whether Gannon was open to diversity because it was all around you, and we knew the university’s commitment to diversity.” It's a commitment he hopes his university will keep and having ascended to a leadership role in his own city, Frye said he looks to Gannon to take a similar role in Erie. “With one of the poorest ZIP codes in the country close to campus and with the resources it has, I would ask what Gannon could do for its community,” Frye said.
“Honestly, attending college was an anomaly for me,” Frye said. “My mom had aspirations for me, but I had a lot of challenges growing “Gannon University up without my father. I needed to go to “My sister-in-law is a physical therapy accepted me when no one work, really. I wasn’t a mature 18-yearstudent, so family-wise we’re still old getting out of high school. I had connected. If Gannon continues to move else believed in me and tremendous life skills — I had to have in the direction of being accepting to a saw something in me that them growing up in the neighborhood variety of different people, focusing on maybe I didn’t see.” I did — but applying them to school diversity and inclusion and supporting and to living were a challenge. Gannon the surrounding - Chris Frye University accepted me when no one community, else believed in me and saw something in me that maybe I Gannon will go in the didn’t see.” direction of great success,” he said. Frye’s leadership skills quickly made themselves known as he plunged into a range of campus organizations. “I was a resident assistant, I joined Campus Ministry, the social work club and the leadership club, and that gave me the structure to succeed,” he said. Perhaps the most stalwart pillar of that structure was Parris Baker ’92, Ph.D., MSSA, who is the director and assistant professor of the social work, mortuary science and gerontology programs.
He should know. Chris Frye is headed in that direction himself. “Gannon University believed in my possibilities,” he said. “That’s the best theme line I’ve ever heard.”
“At Gannon, I was a lost boy,” Frye said. “I didn’t have the guidance that some kids have from father figures, and Dr. Baker became my family, friend, mentor, pastor and teacher. … I have to credit him with me staying at Gannon. I remember semesters where, returning to campus, I couldn't wait to learn from him again.” Even a decade after his graduation, the connection with his mentor remains strong. “I go back to him for his knowledge and expertise and he continues to deliver on a spiritual and mental level,” Frye said.
out there and did nothing for our “Marian came to me and said you Black community and Black students know enough people on campus, on campus,” she said. “It was not what and you are well rounded enough to I expected from a black student union. make a change,” Hammerer said. “We So last year, me and my president made a plan and we were on it, but (Jade Hammerer), decided we’re going coronavirus set everything back. I to be the change we want to see.” personally feel that I haven’t done
Chris Fye ’10, mayor of New Castle, Pa.
everything I wanted to do, but the coronavirus has made it hard.” Still, a BSU prayer vigil in August on Friendship Green attracted a crowd the size and diversity of which surprised Collin Franco. “It was an #GUPOSSIBILITIES
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