President Biden names DSU President as Chair of Board of Advisors on HBCUs

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint Delaware State University President Tony Allen as the Chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

We’re told Dr. Allen will lead the Board and its advancement of the goals of the HBCU Initiative, established by the Carter Administration in 1980, to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to students and continue to serve as engines of opportunity.

Allen became President of DSU in January 2020 after serving as Provost and Executive Vice President since July 2017. Before joining the university, Allen brought a diverse background in the private and nonprofit sectors. He was the Managing Director of Corporate Reputation at Bank of America, co-founded the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and Public Allies Delaware, and led Delaware’s K-12 public education reform effort from 2014 to 2019.

Although Allen’s tenure has largely been through the pandemic, he and his team have built a strong portfolio of accomplishments focused on student success. The university has risen to the #3 public HBCU in America (US News), an R2 “high research activity” designation, and the historic acquisition of Wesley College. The school’s “Together” COVID-19 plan has been touted as a national example of campus safety strategy, and a year into the pandemic enrollment has shattered all previous records.

Tony Allen has drawn national attention to DSU through fundraising and national appearances on major media platforms, including ABC World News Tonight, CNN, the Black News Channel, and many others. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the 59th Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies.