This important work will draw upon the Universitys strengths as a
research institution by engaging faculty and professionals from many
disciplines, many of whom are already engaged in assisting affected by
the recommendations of the WEIC. "The new partnership, said Carol
Vukelich, interim dean of the College of Education and Human
Development, will mobilize programs in four key areas that draw upon
the Universitys strengths: research and evaluation, professional
development, school improvement strategies and models, and engagement
and advocacy.
Improving success for low-income students requires a comprehensive
developmental approach that draws upon knowledge from many fields and
focuses on the alignment of needed supports and services starting in
early childhood and extending through entry into a career or higher
education, and drawing upon a strong partnership between the community
and the schools.
Many UD faculty, professionals and students are already engaged in
support of this effort, Vukelich said, and the UD Partnership for
Public Education will provide additional support for their contributions
as well as mobilize contributions from other parts of the UD
community.
George Watson, dean of UD's College of Arts and Sciences, and
Vukelich will co-chair the University-wide steering committee for the UD
Partnership for Public Education.
The mission of the partnership, said Watson, is to marshal and
coordinate University capacity and expertise in direct collaboration
with public schools and with partner organizations such as the
Wilmington Education Improvement Commission.
About the donors
Quinetta Roberson is the Fred J. Springer Endowed Chair of
Business Leadership at Villanova University. One of the worlds foremost
authorities in organizational behavior specializing in leadership,
talent management and diversity, she has published over 20 articles and
book chapters, and edited a Handbook of Diversity in the Workplace, published by Oxford Press in 2013.
Roberson has been a visiting professor at several international
universities, including Bocconi University in Milan, Italy; Melbourne
Business School in Melbourne, Australia; and FGV-EAESP in S??o Paulo,
Brazil. She also served a one-year appointment as a program director at
the National Science Foundation. Before joining Villanova University,
she was a tenured associate professor at Cornell University.
She earned her bachelor's degree in finance from UD in 1992 and
serves on the Lerner School of Business and Economics Advisory Council.
Tony Allen is the managing director of the corporate
reputation group at Bank of America, responsible for developing and
monitoring programming to influential external audiences. He is a key
adviser to the banks public policy and corporate social responsibility
teams and also chairs the Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs
Diversity & Inclusion Council for the company.
Active in civic affairs throughout the country, Allen is the chairman
of the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission (WEIC), created
by Delaware's governor and General Assembly to strengthen public
education for students throughout the state. He is also the co-founder
or Public Allies-Delaware, a now 20-year old leadership development
organization for young adults interested in public service and chairman
emeritus of the National Urban Fellows, the oldest academic fellowship
for mid-career professionals of color in the country.
Allen also has written extensively in many periodicals and publications including the annual journal, The State of Black America, and the syndicated column To Be Equal.He
ia a Whitney M. Young awardee for Advancing Racial Equality, the
National Urban Leagues highest honor and in 2012 was named Delaware
Citizen of the Year. He has received many other honors throughout his
career.
Allen received his bachelor's degree in political science
and his doctorate in urban affairs and public policy in 1992 and 2001,
respectively. He is a member of the University's Board of Trustees.
In 2013, Roberson and Allen co-founded Brooks Whitney, a management
consulting firm. Roberson serves as chief executive officer and Allen is
chairman.