The board of trustees of historically Black Lincoln University in Pennsylvania has chosen not to renew the contract of the university’s president Brenda Allen. The vote was 11-10 not to renew her contract, which expired June 30.
James W. Jordan, a member of the board of trustees said that in searching for a new leader “we seek an innovator who will help us forge a new vision that builds upon the traditions of a liberal arts education, while driving innovation to meet the demands of today and tomorrow. These qualities are essential to taking our university to the next level. Above all, we seek to continue to provide our students with the highest degrees of academic excellence, while continuing the successful 166-year legacy of Lincoln University.”
Before being named the fourteenth president of Lincoln University in 2017, Dr. Allen was provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. She is the former associate provost for institutional diversity at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Earlier, she taught at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.
A graduate of Lincoln University, Dr. Allen holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
The board said that an interim president would be named very soon. He or she will serve while a search for a permanent president is conducted.
Dr. Allen had the support of the alumni, faculty, students and even the governor of the state. Thanks to her, LU received an awesome accreditation report. I believe that she did everything that she was called upon to do when she was hired. She was not fired. The board just let her contract expire during a pandemic. In doing so, several of the board’s action have been called into questions such as refusing to allow 5 trustees to vote.
I am praying for my alma mater.
My son was quite upset. He felt she did a great job. I’ve spoken with several alum that are also confused and upset. I hope the upcoming academic year does not have a mass amount of confusion and chaos.
It is amazing to me that every black women hired as president at an HBCU ends within a few years. This is a pattern that I see as a problem.