Chancellor Receives Prestigious Award

Darrell T. Allison, Chancellor was named the William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher education award winner by Student Veterans of America (SVA). The annual award is given to university leaders across the country who excel in providing innovative and creative management strategies and demonstrate excellence in leadership in supporting military and veteran students. In this case, Chancellor Allison is recognized for making a difference at Fayetteville State University (FSU).

Chancellor Allison is also working to broaden FSU’s reach with targeted student populations, providing more effective outreach, services, and resources to adult learners and military-connected students. His efforts have helped position FSU as a national leader with military-connected students. In 2021, FSU was the top-ranked “Best for Vets” college among all four-year HBCUs in Military Times’ annual ranking. The Military Order of the Purple Heart has also designated FSU as a Purple Heart University, in recognition of FSU’s support of veterans and their families. FSU is the first of 16 UNC System schools to receive this honor.

“It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this huge honor bestowed upon me. FSU not only is the second oldest institution in the University of North Carolina System, it also is just miles away from the largest military installation in the world, Ft. Bragg. This puts us in prime position to be the nation's leading HBCU for military and veteran students and I am thankful for the acknowledgement,” stated Chancellor Darrell T. Allison. SVA honored Allison at an awards luncheon during its National Convention (NatCon) the largest annual convening of student veterans in the country. The 14th Annual NatCon was held January 6-8, 2022 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort near Orlando, Florida.