ALUMNI NEWS
By Dr. Sam Odom Dr. Tony Allen Became the 12 th President of Delaware State University P ast Northeastern Province Junior Province Vice Polemarch, Brother Dr. Antoine “Tony” Al- len (Nu Xi 1989) continues his As Provost
and Ex- ecutive Vice President, Dr. Allen led the redesign of the Universi- ty’s academic colleges, the consolidation of academic advising as- sets under the Office of Stu- dent Success, and realigned the priorities of Academic Affairs to
journey of achievement. On January 1, 2020, a new leadership chapter for Dela- ware State University began on New Year’s Day, as Dr. Tony Allen became the institution’s 12 th President in its 129- year history and he recently spearheaded the acquisition of Wesley College. According to the Board of Trustees Chairperson Dr. Devona Williams, since he arrived at the institution in the sum- mer of 2017 as Executive Vice President and Provost, “Tony has proven himself time and again with the imagination, tenacity, and integrity he brought to Delaware State University”….in less than two years, Williams says, “Tony has materially strengthened our academic and research enterprise. He has a com- plete understanding of the challenges and opportunities in higher education, and particularly what it takes for stu- dents at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to succeed in academics, in establishing a career, and in life.” Dr. Williams declared that “Tony will definitely be a non-traditional President. His strengths in business operations, organizational development, and collabo- ration with stakeholders combine to give our University a transformational leader who will shape its future growth.” At Delaware State University, Dr. Allen’s drive and belief in the possi- bilities of the First State’s only HBCU have enabled him to achieve numerous advancements in only two years in that leadership post (Provost). He has set a comprehensive tone on campus by widely and consistently stating that “It all matters.”
make them consistent with the Universi- ty’s strategic goals and key performance indicators. With a long-term view toward the future, as Provost he developed a plan to increase the University’s annual research portfolio from $20 million to $35 million in the next 5-7 years, as well as new educational, governmental, com- munity and business partnerships to bet- ter position Delaware State University as a broad-based leader in the region. Dr. Allen was also instrumental in the formation of a Strategic Enrollment Division that, for the first time in the institution’s history, places all front-end student services in one seamless organi- zation. Dr. Allen was strongly involved in the strengthening of checks and bal- ances that protect the University from liabilities. Dr. Allen’s appointment as University President is the pinnacle of a prolific and storied career in education, cor- porate America, public service, urban affairs, and as a Congressional staffer.
Dr. Allen’s wealth of corporate busi- ness acumen has energized his leader- ship style at the University. Before his arrival, he employed his talents at Bank of America from 2006-2017, where he served first as a Communication Ex- ecutive and culminated his time as the Managing Director of Corporate Reputa- tion. From 2004-2006, Dr. Allen worked for MBNA America Bank in Wilming- ton, where he was a General Manager for the Vice President, and later elevated to Executive Vice President. He was the founding President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League from 2000-2004, where he ad- vanced a strategic agenda that impacted 100,000 Delawareans. His work there earned him the National Urban League’s highest honor – the Whitney M. Young Award for Advancing Racial Equality. Dr. Allen served as a speechwriter and Special Assistant for the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (then-U.S. Sena-
60 | FALL-WINTER 2020 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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