Max Allen

Vice President and Chief of Staff, Clemson University

Since his arrival at Clemson University in June 2015, Max Allen has helped strengthen the overall national reputation and awareness of the Clemson brand. He serves as the chief advisor to President Clements and is the primary liaison with the vice presidents and other direct reports to the president.  Under his leadership, he has helped to create and design the President’s Leadership Institute, helped design and implement the Clemson Forward strategic plan, coordinated a strategic reorganization of the campus diversity efforts, served as the primary liaison with key community leaders and partners, served as a member of the university’s crisis decision team, and helped with the successful completion of the $1 billion “Will to Lead” capital campaign. 

Prior to Clemson, Allen served as the chief of staff at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the executive assistant to the president and director of university relations at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. A retired Navy Lieutenant Commander, Allen has had many successful years of challenging assignments as a Navy public affairs officer.

Allen holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University in Florida and is a graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Leadership Georgia Class of 2000. Previous leadership service includes: Past President of the 100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina and Past Chair of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education.  He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi (Delta Beta) fraternity. Allen serves on the Greenville, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Clemson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Alliance Pickens Board, the UpState Alliance Board, and the BB&T Local Advisory Board in Greenville, SC.