Who We Are – Tony Allen

Tony Allen walks the campus of Delaware State University as it’s President, but back in 1988, he walked the halls of William Penn High. During his time at WP, Tony served as vice president of student government & captain of the cross country team. “I couldn’t wait to get to high school. It was a big place…but I knew if I could be successful there, I could go anywhere I could imagine.” Allen said.

He did just that. Allen successfully served as the founding president of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and worked several years for Vice President Joe Biden. He also was the co-founder of Public Allies Delaware and a top executive for Bank of America. Allen credits his years at Penn as preparing him for his stellar career in the public and private sectors. “The Colonial School District demanded that we interact together, and that is what made us better. I find myself with the unique ability to be comfortable in almost any setting. That is because of William Penn & the Colonial School District.”

Allen is a proud alumnus who takes the saying “Once a Colonial, always a Colonial,” to heart. “It means we love one another without condition, and that we know that we represent ourselves, our family, our community, & our beloved cherry and black wherever we go in the world”