Vice President for Strategy and University Affairs
Now in his 3rd decade of higher education leadership. Allen P. Vital, Ph. D., provides leadership
and guidance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 
Dr. Vital’s career journey has included his most recent assignment as Senior Advisor to the President at the Southern University System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Vice President for Marketing Communications and Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama. Associate Vice President for External Resources at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. He served as Foundation Manager at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi and Assistant to the Vice President for Administration at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland.
Having served in six presidential cabinets, Dr. Vital has comprehensive experience in higher education leadership. His experience has been critical in assisting presidents in achieving institutional goals across all higher education disciplines. Dr. Vital possesses expansive experience in the areas of institutional advancement, crisis management and preparedness, strategic planning, and program and personnel evaluations.
Dr. Vital recognizes his greatest career success is providing opportunities for students to succeed with minimal financial challenges. For faculty and staff to have the necessary resources to be effective in their jobs and opportunities for them to continue their professional growth. Following in the path of one of his mentors he is focused on student success, steward of place, and developing alternative revenue sources.
As evidenced of his commitment to HBCUs Dr. Vital has earned all of his degrees at historically Black colleges. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Southern University and A&M College; Master of Education in community counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. Additional studies included a CLA in paralegal studies from Louisiana State University and a CFRM in fundraising management from Indiana University. He has completed the Executive Leadership Summit at Hampton University and the Institute of Education Management at Harvard University. Dr. Vital served has a U S Department of State Muskie Mentor Fellow 2017 – 2018 and is a 2022 – 2023 American Council of Education Fellow (ACE).
Dr. Vital is married to Shannon Durham Vital and they have two daughters. Madison a graduate student at Georgia State University and Brenna an undergraduate at Louisiana State University.