A Strategic Educational Executive, Achieving Transformational

Change in Higher Education

Darrell T. Allison is the 12th chancellor and chief executive officer of Fayetteville State University (FSU), the second oldest public institution in the University of North Carolina System.

Throughout his tenure at FSU, Chancellor Allison’s visionary leadership has catalyzed widespread institutional renewal, yielding unprecedented success in these core areas: economic empowerment and development; major funding acquisition and fundraising; service to military-affiliated students; and athletic competition. His tangible impact at FSU has caught the attention of state influencers, earning him a spot on Business North Carolina’s “Power List” in Education for four consecutive years, in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Today, FSU has witnessed its highest student retention rate percentages; record levels of alumni giving percentages; highest enrollment numbers – eclipsing 7,000 students for the first time in history (2024) and historic levels of construction and expansion at any time in the 158 years of the university’s history.

Economic empowerment and development

From his earliest days at FSU, Chancellor Allison has cast an expansive and aspirational vision for the university’s role in fostering regional economic empowerment and development. This vision has inspired the creation of vital partnerships and targeted investment in the local economy. He negotiated the $5 million, 100% debt-free acquisition of Bronco Square, now known as Bronco Midtown, to serve as the site of a transformative economic empowerment initiative for the community and region. Previously, FSU had maintained a 50% partnership in Bronco Square.

This work has leveraged to bring flagship restaurant brands to the university and region, adding to a McAllister’s Deli previously located at Bronco Midtown--driving new employment and revenue opportunities, under his leadership and guidance, Bronco Development Corporation opened a new Chick-fil-A restaurant in 2024 at Bronco Midtown and a new Starbucks near the center of campus in 2025, each generating new diversified revenue streams for university support of students.

Chancellor Allison later established the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub, a partnership between FSU, the City of Fayetteville, and Cumberland County, located at Bronco Midtown. The “HUB” provides free services—such as help securing certifications and start-up capital—to local entrepreneurs and small businesses. Since launch in September 2022, the HUB has:

• Sponsored over 600 events with 12,000 participants
• Helped businesses win over $85 million in state and local government contracts
• Helped small businesses create or retain over 500 jobs

FSU is currently in the process of a major collaboration with the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County to create new mixed-use development on 20 acres of currently vacant land located downtown Fayetteville and just .04 miles from FSU to include student housing, retail, and an innovative farmers market.

Major funding acquisition and fundraising

Prior to Chancellor Allison’s arrival, FSU ranked near the bottom among UNC System institutions in state appropriations revenue as well as equipment and capital expenditures; in fundraising, FSU ranked last.  Chancellor Allison has altered those trajectories in fundamental ways, pursuing an ambitious approach to major funding acquisition and fundraising that has been historic in its impact. He has secured historic state budget appropriations of over $210 million for FSU capital expenditure requirements, an amount represented the university’s largest state budget allocation in over 35 years.

He successfully advocated for FSU’s participation as one of 4 institutions (16 Systems institutions total) in the state-funded NC Promise Tuition Plan enabling the University to offer full-time tuition at $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 per semester for out-of-state students, which required an $11.5 million recurring appropriation in the state budget. FSU was also awarded special appropriations by the state of North Carolina to establish new programs addressing state needs, including $2.5 million to establish a Risk Management Institute and $1.5 million to provide statewide training for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

Chancellor Allison helped set fundraising records for contributions from major donors and alumni; raised alumni participation rates from 2.5% FY 2020 (lowest among all Systems schools and prior to arrival) to 3.3% in FY2021 to historical mark of 5.5% in FY2024. Alumni giving is trending to hit consecutive historical mark of 7% in FY 2025. FSU now has major new donors over the 2021-2025 period have included Anonymous Trust ($9 million), William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust ($1.4 million), and National Institute of Student Success ($1.1 million), and multiple major federal grant awards to enhance University capabilities, including:

• $10 million Dept. of Education award to enhance graduate education in targeted high demand disciplines
• $4.9 million Dept. of Commerce award to strengthen broadband capabilities at FSU and in the community
• $1.0 million USAID investment to provide internships, certification training, and faculty research support

Enhanced Campus Infrastructure

Fayetteville State University having some of the greatest campus needs of repairs and renovations of all 16 schools within the UNC System, Chancellor Allison led the creation of a 10-year Campus Master Plan to guide the physical development of the University, incorporating extensive stakeholder input to address identified needs, accommodate continued growth, and create an attractive environment promoting learning, research, and engagement. He also provided leadership and guidance in the design and construction of major new additions to the campus infrastructure, navigating significant inflationary cost pressures in the face of fixed budget allocations, with new additions including:

• $50 million residence hall, adding 336 beds and totaling almost 80,000 sq. ft., to be completed Fall 2025
• $69 million College of Education building, totaling over 70,000 sq. ft., on track to be completed Summer 2026 on time and on budget
• $12 million Health and Wellness Center, totaling almost 22,000 sq. ft and making possible the expansion of space dedicated to mental wellness and enabling the creation of a new pharmacy for enhanced student access to needed medications
• $11 million 3-level, 288 space parking deck
• $11 million repurpose of the stately Cook Building—the oldest building on campus which will serve as a new stand-along Military and Veterans Academic Center.
• Opened the newly renovated Campus Aquatic Center in 2023—the product of a $700,000 institutional investment—serving students, other high school and university constituents, and the broader local community.

Student Success and Career Preparation

Prior to his arrival to Fayetteville State University, the university ranked last in both student retention and graduation rates among all schools within the UNC System. Moreover, Chancellor Allison knew a strong, targeted and system-wide student success plan would be needed recognizing that 80% of FSU’s in-state students come from low resource counties designated by the State of North Carolina as the most economically challenged in the state—a higher proportion than any of the other public universities in the state.

Over the course of a few short months the following key strategic student success initiatives were launched with the following results:

• 30-60-90 Campaign encouraging students to stay on track for 4-year graduation, featuring free summer school for up to 7 credits, including room/board and food plan where needed
• Established a 16-community college partnership, called Bronco Benefit that makes it easier for students to transfer credits to FSU.
• Established a free Bronco Boost immersive summer transition program for incoming students, offering introductory core courses, extracurricular activities, and academic advising (successful students starting day 1 of Fall with a total of 7 core credit courses already completed)
• Doubling the number of academic advisors and increasing access to tutors (16-32)
• Repurposing the functionality of the library to include Bronco One-Stop – centralized student support services in a readily accessible easy to navigate location
• Free laptops provided to all incoming freshmen (2024-2027), in collaboration with Lenovo Corporation – a multi-million-dollar investment.
• Revitalized the Bronco Emergency Fund, a program that provides resources for students who are experiencing emergencies and need assistance.
• Leveraged COVID Relief funding to pay millions of dollars of outstanding student balances

Student Success Results:

• First year student retention up from 62% for the class which entered Fall 2020 just prior to arrival as Chancellor at FSU (last in the UNC System) to 75% in Fall 2024 (above average for comparable UNC System institutions), on track to reach 80% in Fall 2025.
• Four-year graduation rates on track to increase from 19% for the class which entered Fall 2020 to 23% for the class which entered Fall 2021 and rapidly approaching FSU performance funding stretch targets from the UNC System for Fall 2022 nearly 30% 4-year graduation rate.
• Consistent student growth achieved each of the last 4 years, exceeding system averages, and now achieving record levels over 7,100; on-track to reach 7,500 Fall 2025 and 8,000 by 2027-2028.

Student Career Preparation:

Launched a 3-Year paid internship initiative, offered through partnerships with over 100 corporate employers providing academic credit as well as the financial compensation so critical to so many of FSU’s students:

• Set cumulative goal of 750 paid internships 2021-2024 from base of 50 in 2020 prior to arrival
• Over 200 corporations and agencies offered over 1,000 paid internships, paying more than $6 million in total compensation to FSU student interns.

Service to military-affiliated students

Utilizing a highly targeted approach to student outreach and support, Chancellor Allison has substantially broadened FSU’s impact with military-affiliated students. Along the way, he garnered national accolades.  FSU was recently awarded Gold Status by Military Friendly Schools organization, 2025-26.

Chancellor Allison launched an innovative program in 2022 to provide free tuition to all military-affiliated students, spurring increased enrollment. In its first year, the program awarded new scholarships to 286 military-affiliated students and has since grown 25% of FSU’s military student population since initiative launch. Moreover, FSU is proud to have the largest percentage of military-affiliated students, representing over 33% of the student body, which is also the highest number of military students in the UNC System.

FSU obtained recognition from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, designating FSU a “Purple Heart University” for the institution’s support of veterans and families, and is the first of 16 UNC System institutions to receive this honor. Most recently, the University was named a 2025-2026 school year by Military Friendly Schools. 

FSU has also received funding from the NC General Assembly to establish a new, full-service military academic center on campus. This center will house all military-related offices and provide office space for high-ranking military officials visiting FSU’s campus. It is also set to feature an academic support center for military-affiliated students and veterans and serves as a primary location for instruction, training, and events, as well as two ROTC detachments (U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force).

In February 2025, FSU became the first university to sign an educational partnership agreement with XVIII Airborne at Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville, NC. Facilitated by Chancellor Allison and the first of its kind, the  agreement creates foundation for FSU to provide worldwide training and applied research support for the 80,000-person unit known as the innovation leader for the US Army.

Building and Fortifying a Research Future

In 2025, Fayetteville State University received recognition as a Carnegie designation Research University. Under his leadership, the University more than doubled federal and state grant awards for research and programmatic support, from $15 million in the 2020-21 academic year to nearly $33 million in 2023-24. With this new designation, FSU is on-track to reach R2 designation (High Spending and Doctorate Production) further expanding grant opportunities. In addition, FSU was selected as one of the prestigious seven UNC System  institutions to serve as a regional hub for NCInnovation—a non-profit funded with a $500 million endowment from the State of North Carolina to support the commercialization of university-led research (earning distinction of serving as NCInnovation’s Defense Innovation Hub for the state). This opportunity provides FSU focused support for several ground-breaking innovations created by faculty across multiple disciplines with potential to generate multi-million-dollar licensing revenue streams.

Given the momentum both in terms of research dollars and partnership, Chancellor Allison recently relaunched the FSU Research Corporation, which is now on track to drive significant new revenue generation through applied research and training contracts for military, intelligence agencies, and major corporations.

FSU Athletic Program & Accomplishments

Chancellor Allison not only wants FSU students to compete and be champions in the classroom, he is a huge supporter of student-athletes and the FSU Athletic program. He strongly believes that successful athletic programs can strategically elevate and propel the brand and name of a university like no other. Thus, Chancellor Allison is proud of the fact that in his four (4) years at Fayetteville State University, Bronco Nation has won 22 CIAA Championships: 

• 2025 Conference Champions—Women’s Bowling
• 2025 Conference Champions—Women’s Basketball
• 2025 Conference Champions—Women’s Indoor Track
• 2024 Conference Champions—Women’s Basketball (National Rank #16)
• 2024 Conference Champions—Women’s Cross Country
• 2024 Conference Champions—Women’s Bowling
• 2024 Conference Champions—Women’s Outdoor Track
• 2024 Conference Champions—Women’s Indoor Track
• 2023 Conference Champions—Men’s Cross Country
• 2023 Conference Champions—Women’s Cross Country
• 2023 Conference Champions—Women’s Outdoor Track
• 2023 Conference Champions—Men’s Golf
• 2023 Conference Champions—Women’s Bowling
• 2023 Conference Champions—Women’s Indoor Track
• 2022 Conference Champions—Football
• 2022 Conference Champions—Women’s Cross Country
• 2022 Conference Champions—Men’s Cross Country
• 2022 Conference Champions—Women’s Outdoor Track
• 2022 Conference Champions—Men’s Basketball (first in 50 Years)
• 2022 Conference Champions—Women’s Indoor Track
• 2021 Conference Champions—Women’s Cross Country
• 2021 Conference Champions—Women’s Volleyball

Accomplishments & Awards

• Business North Carolina’s “Power List” in Education, 2022-2025
• Airborne Ambassador Designation, awarded by Commanding General, XVIII Airborne, 2025
• Named to Carnegie Electives Presidents Advisory Council, American Council on Education, 2023
• Keynote speaker at Amazon Web Services Cybersecurity Conference, 2023
• Named the William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education by Student Veterans of America, 2022