Mike Allen, Ph.D. began his tenure as the seventh president of Barry University on July 1, 2019. An experienced higher education administrator, Allen came to Barry University from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. where he served as Vice President for Student Affairs for the past six years and as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics for eight years.

Additionally, he designed and implemented academic support programs for students at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Connecticut between 1993 and 2005.

Allen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, and a Master of Arts and Doctoral degree from the School of Education at the University of Connecticut, where his dissertation and research focused on the academic socialization and personal development of intercollegiate student athletes.

Allen is the first man and lay person to lead Barry University since its founding in 1940. He and his wife, Beth, have two children, Maya and James.

Some of Dr. Allen’s major accomplishments include:

• Coordinating an integrated planning effort that led to the anticipated construction of approximately $90 million in capital facility investments in close conjunction with the launch of an institutional capital campaign. These projects include a new, state-of-the-art dining facility, a new residence hall, and multiple upgrades to athletic and recreation facilities.

• Leading a collaborative effort with faculty and Enrollment Management, as chair of the University Retention Committee, to significantly bolster student retention from matriculation through graduation.

• Working collaboratively with University Advancement to secure several multi-million-dollar donations for the support of capital projects and initiatives.

• Co-leading an effort to assess and modify the existing Strategic Plan to set the course for the university over the next five years.

• Expanding career development and academic advising support through the creation of a new Center for Academic and Career Success.

• Launching a new Center for Cultural Engagement in 2016 to support the recruitment and engagement of underrepresented minority students.

• Initiating the Our Community, My Responsibility campaign in 2014, with the goal of increasing cultural sensitivity and awareness on campus, while emphasizing the importance of civility, kindness, compassion, and personal responsibility as guiding principles.

• Expanding co-curricular engagement for students through new student orientation and residential programming, faculty and religious in-residence programs, student activities, athletic and recreation programs, and opportunities to embrace Washington, D.C.