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Philly gets new officers including one for historically Black colleges and 'greek' life
03/21/25Philadelphia 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.”
While the federal government continues to remove protections for historically disadvantaged communities, Parker seeks to add them locally. She appointed longtime community development expert Andy Toy as director of the Home Appraisal Equity Program. Nadir Jones, who has worked as the Diversity Sourcing Manager for real estate powerhouse CBRE will serve as director of Business Impact and Supplier Diversity in the Office of Business Impact and Economic Advancement.
“His experience is in leading in diversity and we're not shying away from that role in any way, shape or form,” Parker said of Jones. “Encouraging the success of minority and women-owned firms, it is a critical importance to the Parker administration, and it is a vital part of our commitment to promoting access to economic opportunity for all.”
Toy will lead a program aimed to eliminate biases in home appraisals. Philadelphia continues to reappraise homes, which has led to spikes in values and tax bills. However, many properties are still undervalued, and Parker said she wants to see more fair assessments performed by the city.
The new hires bring diverse resumes to City Hall. New Procurement Department commissioner Ronald Hovey previously worked with Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. Tyrell Brown, the new director of LBGTQ+ Affairs started Philly Pride 365 and was executive director for LGBTQIA and BIPOC social justice organization Galaei. The new Chief Strategy and Partnership officer Patricia Wellenbach was president and CEO of the Please Touch Museum and is board chair at Jefferson Health and Thomas Jefferson University.
Parker did not take questions at the press event, just three days before her speech on her major housing plan, to be delivered at a special session of City Council.
