NEWARK —  Funds donated by two alumni and a commitment of support from university leaders have helped the University of Delaware to launch the UD Partnership for Public Education. The new partnership is a multidisciplinary effort to mobilize the university’s research, educational and public service capacities to provide sustained assistance to Delaware schools with low-income and other
at-risk students.

The initial focus will be on the city of Wilmington.

UD faculty and professionals will support improvements in instruction through professional development programs for teachers and school leaders and on-site collaboration on school-improvement strategies that reflect national best practices.

Two longtime friends and Blue Hen classmates have joined forces to establish a new Fund for Urban Education that will provide strategic and integrated support for the partnership. The $100,000 gift is an initiative of Quinetta Roberson, professor of management and the Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership at the Villanova School of Business, and Tony Allen, a UD trustee, who leads the corporate-reputation group for Bank of America and serves as the chair of the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission.

“The University of Delaware is thankful to Drs. Roberson and Allen for making this critical commitment to extend the University’s role in strengthening Delaware public education, and specifically to focus on assistance to schools with large numbers of low-income students,  English language learners and students,” said Acting President Nancy Targett. ”The UD Partnership for Public Education will build on the university’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

The UD Partnership for Public Education will strengthen the support UD is now providing to the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission, which is focused on strengthening pre-K-12 education in Wilmington and New Castle County. Information is available at www.solutionsfordelawareschools.com.

“The UD Partnership for Public Education,” UD Provost Domenico Grasso said, “is in perfect alignment with the university’s newly launched Community Engagement Initiative, and will directly improve the quality of life in our state and strengthening Delaware’s public education system — key goals that affect us all.”