Vincena Allen is Chief Growth Officer at The SEED Foundation, a non-profit organization leading the nation's first and only network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools providing a 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Vincena also served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer through February 2024, while the Chief Executive Officer participated in a sabbatical.

Vincena oversees all internal and external initiatives associated with college success efforts, along with leading the strategic planning for a comprehensive, integrated model for human resources and talent across the SEED network. Throughout her tenure with SEED, Vincena has been integral to implementing an expanded vision for growth. She has supported the reimagination of scale by developing a college matching technology platform designed to empower stakeholders with critical data most directly related to college completion for underrepresented students.

Prior to SEED, Vincena served in leadership positions at community-based organizations and higher education institutions in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest and has presented at conferences including NCAN, NACAC, The College Board, NASPA, and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. She has also written for the Huffington Post and was interviewed by the Harvard Social Impact Review. Vincena currently serves as the board chair-elect for the Common App.

Vincena’ s passion for human development and education led her to study psychology at Allegheny College, earn a master’s degree from the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, and receive a certificate of non-profit management from Columbia University’s Executive Level Business program.