President Joe Biden plans to appoint Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen, as the Chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Allen will lead the Board and its advancement the goals of the HBCU Initiative, established by the Carter Administration in 1980.
Tony Allen became President of Delaware State University in January 2020, after serving as Provost and Executive Vice President since July 2017.
Allen formerly served as Managing Director of Corporate Reputation at Bank of America; co-founded the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and Public Allies Delaware; and led Delaware’s K12 public education reform effort from 2014 – 2019.
Early in his career, Allen served as an aide and a speechwriter to Biden was serving as a U.S. Senator from Delaware.
During Allen’s time as president, university has seen its elevation to the #3 public HBCU in America (US News), gained a R2 “high research activity” designation, and completed the acquisition of nearby Wesley College.
Allen has also drawn national attention to Delaware State University through fundraising ($40 million in 2020) and national appearances on major media platforms. He also served as the chief executive officer of the 59th Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies.
Through the American Rescue Plan and by forgiving capital improvement debt of many HBCU’s, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed more than $4 billion in support.
