Photo by Katy St. Clair“Universities must be innovators. Research shows today’s students are different. We have to listen and be willing to change.”—Dr. Jeff Frederick.
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Leadership
Drury's Next Chapter with President Jeff Frederick
For Dr. Jeff Frederick, Drury’s new president, a university education goes beyond seated coursework. We spoke with Frederick about how he is placing real-world learning, meaningful connections and marketable skills at the heart of the Drury experience.
by Jennifer Swenson
May 2025
Last August, two months into his tenure as Drury University’s 19th president, Dr. Jeff Frederick joined 100 incoming freshmen in cleaning up trash along Fassnight Creek during the university’s annual Service Plunge. The newly minted college students had barely settled into housing and hadn’t yet set foot in a lecture hall or lab, but they were already giving back to the Springfield community—shoulder to shoulder with their president.
This involvement is integral to Drury’s mission, and it’s one reason Frederick was drawn to the top leadership role. Frederick says, “In a world where we are staring down, consumed by our technology, Drury’s mission—its soul—tells us to look up and have a conversation.” Throughout his first year, Frederick has championed a culture of connection, where students build faculty mentorships, explore an interdisciplinary curriculum, take part in campus life and engage with the community. During their time at Drury, the typical student has 3 to 12 experiential learning opportunities with local organizations.
Frederick acknowledges that higher education faces complex challenges. Citing technological change, economic shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic, he says, “What worked for institutions 20 years ago seems like 100. Universities must be innovators. Research shows today’s students are different. We have to listen and be willing to change.”
Nailed It, Failed It with Dr. Jeff Frederick
“Parenting is both! Depending on the hour of the day, parents feel like they’ve either nailed it or failed it. The ultimate source of humility is parenting. Don’t get swept away in the highs, and the lows are not an indication that you’ve failed your kids.”
To this end, Frederick has been proactive in developing programs and initiatives that prepare students for the demands of an evolving workforce. This fall, Drury will launch three new graduate programs—a master’s of healthcare administration, a reimagined MBA and a master’s in athletic and sports administration—along with a bachelor’s program in nonprofit management. Drury’s Department of Engineering, now completing its first year, emphasizes real-world application. Frederick says, “In old-school engineering, you take a million calculus and physics courses, and by the time you’re a senior, you might be let loose in a lab.” In contrast, Drury’s freshmen engineering students construct robotic cars and cell phone appliances, learning through trial and error.
Under Frederick’s leadership, the university has introduced a separate skills transcript alongside the academic transcript. “Every course at Drury is mapped to a set of market-based skills,” he says. The skills transcript helps students showcase abilities beyond their major—so, for instance, an English graduate applying to a bank can highlight qualifications that align with the job.
Frederick’s commitment to innovation extends beyond the classroom. Last fall, he announced the Drury Springfield Promise, which will provide funding to students from eight counties in the region. Additionally, he is building partnerships with educational institutions, corporations and nonprofits. These partnerships not only provide opportunities for students, but they also elevate Drury’s voice in the region. This year, Frederick plans to launch a podcast that will export the expertise of Drury team members into the community. All these efforts “represent an investment in the greater Springfield area,” he says. “Springfield functions better when Drury is at the table.”
Frederick continues, “Great organizations focus on two things: what they can excel at, and where they are different.” Thanks to Drury’s small size and interdisciplinary approach, “students are going to engage with people who want to do meaningful things. They’ll leave with a backpack full of skills for their future lives.”
Jeff Frederick at a Glance
Family: Jeff and his wife, Melinda, were college sweethearts. They have three sons—Logan (married to Grace), Jack (married to Brittany), and Quinton—and a new grandson named Carter.
Education: Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in business and master’s degree in history from University of Central Florida, as well as a PhD in American history from Auburn University.
Hobbies: Running, grilling, reading and writing.
One Little-Known Fact: Jeff is a fan of the Chicago Bears and proudly displays a Bears helmet in his office.
Frederick’s Ideal Saturday: An early-morning run with his dog, Briggs, followed by spending the rest of the morning with Melinda. They’d go hiking in the afternoon and wrap up the day at a local brewery, listening to live music.
Best Advice: “Do your best. It doesn’t have to be the best, but it should be your best.”
