The campus community is invited to an open house reception celebrating the retirement of Vincent Allen, from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, January 30 in the Alumni Center, Room 116. Remarks will begin at 3 p.m. Please join us in honoring Allen’s many achievements and over 35 years of dedicated service to Illinois State University.
Over the years, Allen has held many positions within Facilities Services. He was hired as a building service worker in 1988. Following that role, he progressed quickly and was promoted to foreman, supervisor, assistant superintendent of Building Services, and later became superintendent of Campus Services. After an organizational change within Facilities Services in 2020, he accepted a new role as assistant director of Campus Services, leading the building services, grounds, laundry, and recycling departments.
Allen dedicated much of his professional life to helping his co-workers and the student body at ISU. He developed and facilitated new programs for Building Services including team cleaning, wood floor finishing, and outside window washing. Allen was a great mentor and friend to many of his co-workers and others across the campus community. He is very passionate about what he has accomplished during his tenure.
Allen received the Civil Service Distinguished Service Award in 2020. This is the highest honor a staff member can receive at ISU. He was nominated by his peers to be a bell ringer for the Founder’s Day Ceremony—a very special recognition.
He is a graduate of Leadership McLean County as well as the APPA Leadership program and the APPA Institute. He is an active member of the Association of College and University Building Service Supervisors (ACUBSS) serving in various roles, including the role of president.
He was a respected advisor for the Revolutionized Health and Wellness Coalition, an ISU student organization. He is a member of ISU’s Association of Black Academic Employees (ABAE) and serves on the board of the Ecology Action Center.
He has coached middle school track and field at Kingsley Junior High School, officiated football games, and coached youth girls’ basketball and youth boys’ football. Allen has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Midwest Food Bank, and various community beautification projects.
He will be missed by his peers at ISU, and we wish him all the best in his retirement. We hope there are many adventures that still await him as he enters the next chapter.
