Committed to making Delaware State University the most diverse, contemporary HBCU in America, Tony Allen became the University’s 12th President on January 1, 2020.
“Delaware State University is one of the most important institutions in the country,” Tony says regularly. “Few universities specialize in providing a four-year, comprehensive education to students who lack every advantage except sheer determination to succeed for themselves and their families.”
Tony served as the University’s Executive Vice President and Provost since July 2017, leading a faculty of 220 professors in 18 academic departments, serving 5,000 graduates and undergraduates. He reorganized the University’s academic colleges and professional advising unit; developed impact-oriented organizations including the Center for Neighborhood Revitalization and Research and the Center for Global Africa; and expanded global partnerships in China, Poland, Jamaica, and Africa.
The University’s funded research increased from $19 - $23 million, and the institution’s chartered Early College High School sent 52% of its first two graduating classes to Delaware State University with an average 40+ college credits already earned.
He has built or expanded partnerships with the City of Wilmington, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Executive Leadership Council, JPMorgan Chase; Corteva, Exelon, Apple, FMC Corporation, and others.
Previously, Tony led Bank of America’s corporate reputation group, and was responsible for developing programming to influential media elites, national social justice advocates, academics and elected officials. He started his financial services career as an Executive Vice President at MBNA America.
Tony’s career has been characterized by commitment to public service, including as the Founding President of both the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and Public Allies Delaware. He has received the National Urban League’s highest honor, the Whitney M. Young Award for Advancing Racial Equality.
Within public policy and education in Delaware, Tony chaired the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission, while also serving on the Board of Directors for the Rodel Foundation. He currently co-chairs the Greater Kent County Workforce Education and Skills Development Group.
He holds a 1993 BA in Political Science from the University of Delaware, and a 1998 MA in Public Administration from the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College (CUNY). He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration in 2001. Tony is an active scholar and lecturer on urban public policy and educational reform.
, | October 28, 2020 11:15 AM