Full Name
Dr. Brenda A. Allen
Job Title
President
Company
Lincoln University
Speaker Bio
Dr. Brenda A. Allen was named the 14th president of her alma mater, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on May 11, 2017. She began her tenure on July 1, 2017.
From July, 2009 through June, 2017 she served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Winston Salem State University (WSSU). Dr. Allen was also a tenured member of the faculty there, holding the title of Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences. At WSSU, Dr. Allen’s primary responsibility was to provide executive level leadership for the institution as it pursued its academic mission. Dr. Allen was responsible to the Chancellor for the overall coordination and effective implementation of the University’s academic programs, and exercised leadership in promoting quality instruction, research, and university and public service. She had responsibility for developing and administering the academic policies and regulations of the University, and in collaboration with other senior officers, she had lead responsibility for the development of the University’s annual budget and long-term financial plans.
As Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Allen provided oversight and leadership of the following academic and operating units: the College of Arts, Sciences; Business and Education; the School of Health Sciences and University College.
Other units reporting to the Provost included: Information Resources (IT and the Library); Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research; the Division of Lifelong Learning (Evening and Week-end Programs, Continuing Education, Distance Learning and Summer Session); the
Honors College; Enrollment Management (Admission, Financial Aid, and the Registrar); the Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning; the Center for Community Safety; the Center for Health Disparities; and the Center for Design Innovations.
Dr. Allen departed WSSU with a legacy of achievement. Her many accomplishments included leading revision of the curriculum, overseeing the establishment of WSSU’s first two doctoral programs, expanding undergraduate research funding, restructuring academic support to
strengthen advising, creating an Office of Faculty Affairs, strengthening standards for tenure and promotion, and helping raise more than $ 10 million for capital projects, scholarships and other student support. Under her watch, the university’s retention and graduation rates rose dramatically and the number of students engaged in research and study abroad also increased.
Dr. Allen served as Associate Provost and Director of Institutional Diversity before moving to WSSU. There she was credited with helping to raise nearly $15 million to support diversity goals, co-authoring a successful $3.3 million NSF ADVANCE Grant, and leading efforts that
culminated in 36% and 45% increases in the number of women and minority faculty members, respectively.
Prior to joining Brown University, Dr. Allen held a number of academic and administrative positions at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Promoted through the ranks at Smith to Full Professor Dr. Allen served as the chair of the African American Studies Department, the Assistant to the President and Director of Institutional diversity, and Special Assistant to the Provost.
Prior to her tenure at Smith College, Dr. Allen spent three years at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut where she held several positions, including Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Psychology, and Lecturer in the Departments of Psychology and African
American Studies.
Dr. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lincoln University, a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology and a doctorate in Developmental Psychology, both from Howard University in Washington, DC.
From July, 2009 through June, 2017 she served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Winston Salem State University (WSSU). Dr. Allen was also a tenured member of the faculty there, holding the title of Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences. At WSSU, Dr. Allen’s primary responsibility was to provide executive level leadership for the institution as it pursued its academic mission. Dr. Allen was responsible to the Chancellor for the overall coordination and effective implementation of the University’s academic programs, and exercised leadership in promoting quality instruction, research, and university and public service. She had responsibility for developing and administering the academic policies and regulations of the University, and in collaboration with other senior officers, she had lead responsibility for the development of the University’s annual budget and long-term financial plans.
As Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Allen provided oversight and leadership of the following academic and operating units: the College of Arts, Sciences; Business and Education; the School of Health Sciences and University College.
Other units reporting to the Provost included: Information Resources (IT and the Library); Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research; the Division of Lifelong Learning (Evening and Week-end Programs, Continuing Education, Distance Learning and Summer Session); the
Honors College; Enrollment Management (Admission, Financial Aid, and the Registrar); the Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning; the Center for Community Safety; the Center for Health Disparities; and the Center for Design Innovations.
Dr. Allen departed WSSU with a legacy of achievement. Her many accomplishments included leading revision of the curriculum, overseeing the establishment of WSSU’s first two doctoral programs, expanding undergraduate research funding, restructuring academic support to
strengthen advising, creating an Office of Faculty Affairs, strengthening standards for tenure and promotion, and helping raise more than $ 10 million for capital projects, scholarships and other student support. Under her watch, the university’s retention and graduation rates rose dramatically and the number of students engaged in research and study abroad also increased.
Dr. Allen served as Associate Provost and Director of Institutional Diversity before moving to WSSU. There she was credited with helping to raise nearly $15 million to support diversity goals, co-authoring a successful $3.3 million NSF ADVANCE Grant, and leading efforts that
culminated in 36% and 45% increases in the number of women and minority faculty members, respectively.
Prior to joining Brown University, Dr. Allen held a number of academic and administrative positions at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Promoted through the ranks at Smith to Full Professor Dr. Allen served as the chair of the African American Studies Department, the Assistant to the President and Director of Institutional diversity, and Special Assistant to the Provost.
Prior to her tenure at Smith College, Dr. Allen spent three years at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut where she held several positions, including Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Psychology, and Lecturer in the Departments of Psychology and African
American Studies.
Dr. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lincoln University, a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology and a doctorate in Developmental Psychology, both from Howard University in Washington, DC.
