Philly gets new officers including one for historically Black colleges and ‘greek’ life

By Marco Cerino, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker told an audience in her reception room Friday that a recent event at the nearby Philadelphia Marriott Downtown hotel reminded her of how integral the Divine Nine organizations and historically Black colleges and universities are to the nation’s history.

She said this before announcing Robin Torrence as the city’s first director of Pan Hellenic and HBCU Engagement.

Torrence was one of seven new hires for the Parker administration introduced. Some will fill previous roles, like Joseph Brasky as the commissioner of the Department of Public Property. New positions have also been added, like Torrence’s, to find new solutions and fulfill Parker’s promises to the city.

Parker said the position was an idea from her time in City Council and wondering how the city could better harness the potential of the residents who attended HBCUs and were in the Pan Hellenic organizations.

Torrence, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., like Parker, worked previously in the Mayor’s Office of Education. She has also been a teacher, social worker, and involved with an Out-of-School Time program.

“I am so excited about this position,” Torrence said. “It’s as if it was created for me. I’m very passionate about my roots, I’m passionate about being a Divine Nine. I’m very passionate about being an HBCU alum. The Divine Nines and HBCUs will be doing a lot moving forward. You will see us and you will see the shields of all organizations.”

Read on to learn how Parker is adding protections for disadvantaged communities when the federal government removes them.

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