James T. (JT) Allen

JT Allen serves as Director of Housing Facilities Services, overseeing a department of 220 staff members responsible for maintaining more than 3.5 million gross square feet of facilities, including 26 residence halls, 15 dining venues, and four Graduate Family Housing communities. He directs the long-term strategic and day-to-day management of assets that create environments where students live and thrive in both their academic and personal endeavors. 

With nearly 40 years of facility management experience, JT leverages lessons learned from the federal government, the USAF and public K–12 school districts in California and Colorado. Additionally, he brings a unique perspective from his time with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), where he advanced animal well-being, public engagement and wildlife conservation. The culmination of these experiences has been instrumental in modernizing housing operations and implementing innovative solutions that optimize resource allocation and enhance service delivery. His efforts ensure that students, facility and staff members benefit from high-quality and well-maintained facilities. 

JT is a first-generation college graduate who earned his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and a master's degree in Business Administration from Troy State University. He retired from the USAF as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2008. In 2016, he became the first and only African-American Chief Executive to run the Albuquerque Biological Park (ABQ BioPark), a 100-acre zoo, aquarium and botanic garden. JT is a native of East Orange, NJ. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and taking in Colorado’s breathtaking natural beauty while hiking, kayaking and fishing.