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Dear USD Community,
A distinguishing characteristic of the University of San Diego is our dedicated staff and faculty who make this an outstanding place to learn, work and grow. For some members of our community, their service extends across many different departments, programs and facets of our campus. Dr. Andrew (Andy) Allen is one of those people. For nearly 40 years, USD has been blessed to have Dr. Allen’s warm presence and stable leadership in multiple roles - including teaching students, serving our faculty and guiding our institutional strategy. After four decades of service, Dr. Allen has informed me of his intention to retire at the end of May from his current role as Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives.
Dr. Allen arrived at USD and joined the economics faculty in 1984. He has taught at the undergraduate, graduate and executive levels and created courses on Money and Banking, Law and Economics and Sports Economics. Dr. Allen led and collaborated with colleagues on many research projects for the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate. In 2004, Dr. Allen served as associate dean in the School of Business (now the Knauss School of Business) and later as interim dean, where, among other duties, he worked on reaffirmation of accreditation efforts.
This led him to the Provost’s Office, where he served as Associate Provost overseeing Career Services, Community Service-Learning, Institute of College Initiatives, and Institutional Research and Planning, among other duties. He has been instrumental in preparing USD for multiple rounds of accreditation review efforts, most recently in 2021. Dr. Allen has served on several WSCUC review teams and on WSCUC’s substantive change review committee.
Dr. Allen served as Vice President and Provost from 2013-2017, overseeing all degree and non-degree educational programs, global programs spanning 44 countries, worldwide partnerships and collaborations, and the educational technology platforms that support our students and employees. During this period, Dr. Allen worked with faculty and deans on the successful revision of USD’s Core Curriculum.
In his current role in Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Allen oversees Institutional Research and Planning; the Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action; and the Changemaker Hub.
I am personally grateful for Dr. Allen’s wise counsel and guidance in developing and tracking our most recent strategic plan, Envisioning 2024, which concludes this year in conjunction with our 75th anniversary. Thanks to Dr. Allen’s leadership and the efforts of members across our community, we have made significant progress on the goals and pathways outlined in Envisioning 2024.
After consulting with members of the Board of Trustees, vice presidents, academic deans, and faculty leadership, I have decided to reorganize the Division of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives. Beginning on June 1st, the Office of Institutional Research and Planning as well as the WASC accreditation responsibilities will be integrated into the Division of Academic Affairs. Additionally, the offices of Community Engagement and the Mulvaney Center, Changemaker Hub, and Care for Our Common Home, will join the Division of Mission Integration. The role of Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives will be sunsetted, and the other responsibilities currently managed by Dr. Allen will be absorbed into the Office of the President.
Dr. Allen’s dedication and selfless service to this university have helped it grow into the world-class institution we are today. As a member of my President’s Administrative and Strategic Leadership Teams, Andy has been a wonderful colleague, and his thoughtful contributions, calm presence, and sense of humor will be sorely missed.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Allen for his significant service to USD and wishing him well on his much-deserved retirement.
Peace,
James T. Harris III, D.Ed.
President
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