CONNECT . MOTIVATE . INSPIRE .
ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAMPUS, IT IS A PRETTY WELL-HEALED PART OF THE DOVER COMMUNITY. THE OTHER SIDE IS ONE OF LOWER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES IN DELAWARE. WE WANTED TO MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO CONNECT WITH THAT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING IN THE AREA OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. WE WANT TO LET THEM KNOW WE’RE NOT ONLY HERE, BUT WE ARE HERE FOR THEM.” - DR. TONY ALLEN
NG,
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DSU is now the fastest growing HBCU in the country. Since 2017, the University has increased its student body from 4,850 to nearly 6,400, had a 30% increase to its research portfolio now at $30 million, and each year generates about $750 million in economic impact to the State of Delaware. “I’ve been active with DSU for decades and was around for the acquisition of Wesley. It was a bold and ambitious move for the growth and betterment of students and our state,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. ”Because of Dr. Allen’s creativity, communication skills, and connections to Delaware’s public, private and non-profit sector leaders, this vision became reality.”
Blunt Rochester first met Allen when he worked for then- Sen. Biden. Soon after they worked in collaboration at the Metropolitan Urban League, before she succeeded him as the second CEO of the organization. Friends and colleagues for decades now, Blunt Rochester calls him an exceptional leader based on his abilities and accomplishments. “Him coming from a business background is a plus because he can understand the cost and breakdown on what we can do versus what we can’t,” said David Hawkins, a 2023 DSU and digital insurance and transparency associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers. “But it’s not just numbers; he takes into consideration his target audience. One thing I
know about Dr. Allen is that he’s ‘students first’. He has a heart. What he does is not just for show or his resume. He prides himself on impacting other people’s lives. He changed mine.” Blunt Rochester cosigned on Allen’s penchant for students. “Dr. Allen’s unwavering support for our HBCU students is reflected in his phenomenal leadership as President of Delaware State University and Chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” she said. “Delaware and our country are better because of Dr. Allen.” Expanding DSU’s Reputation, Portfolio and Reach A super smart business decision for DSU, the acquisition wasn’t about bragging rights. The
university is, however, the only HBCU to acquire another college or university in the United States. The merger also wasn’t about securing the bag– though the university’s financial health is allowing it to build for the long term, according to Allen. A major motivator for the acquisition was an effort to make a larger impact for DSU students, in addition to the community of marginalized families in Dover. The merger allowed for DSU to increase its academic programs by 14 offerings, one of those being behavioral sciences. “On one side of the campus, it is a pretty well-healed part of the Dover community,” said Allen. “The other side is one of lower-resourced communities in Delaware. We wanted to make
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