Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D.

Dr. Antonio D. Tillis has served as chancellor of Rutgers University in Camden, a Carnegie R2 Classified research institution, since July 2021. Chancellor Tillis is an internationally known scholar who has presented his work at universities and academic conferences around the world. A visionary leader, Chancellor Tillis has decades of higher-education experience that guide his commitment to elevating research output, student success, civic engagement , and internationalism across Rutgers University in Camden.

In Tillis’ first year, Rutgers–Camden achieved status as a Minority Serving Institution. The Department of Education designation—given to institutions where 50 percent of undergraduates are minority students—ensures increased access to higher education for low-income and minority students. .  In 2023 Rutgers–Camden was recognized as an Asian American (AA) and Native American Pacific Islander (NAPI)-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), with about 12.9 percent of its students identifying as AA or NAPI.

During his first year, Tillis launched the Chancellor’s Strategic Initiatives: “15 in 5”  which represents a commitment to 15 transformative initiatives over the next five years to propel the institution forward across various domains from academic excellence and research innovation to fostering an inclusive campus environment and community engagement. These 15 strategic initiatives will shape the future of Rutgers–Camden for the next generation and beyond

Recently, Tillis launched a new vision for the future of Rutgers-Camden in 2023.  A new Strategic Plan for 2023 through 2028, titled “A Century and Beyond of Excellence, Commitment, and Elevation.” The plan was developed through an inclusive campus-wide process with input from students, faculty, staff, board members, and key community stakeholders.  The plan establishes the foundation for a strong future of academic and experiential learning.

Under Tillis’ leadership, Rutgers-Camden rose in the U.S. News and World Best Colleges ranking in 2023 to #49 in top public schools and #98 in national universities. It continues to hold this position at the same professional ranking. The university named in 2016 as New Jersey's first Purple Heart University came in at #65 on the Best Colleges for Veterans list, up almost 20 places from last rankings.

Tillis’ leadership positions in higher education before Rutgers include interim president of the University of Houston–Downtown, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston, Dean of the School of Languages, Culture and World Affairs at the College of Charleston, Chair of African and African American Studies at Dartmouth College and Inaugural Director of Latin American and Latino Studies Program at Purdue University.

Throughout his illustrious career, Tillis has garnered numerous accolades and recognitions, solidifying his reputation as a distinguished leader in both business and education. In 2022 and 2023, he was honored as one of the Top 50 Business Leaders in South Jersey by New Jersey Business Magazine. His influence extends beyond regional borders, as evidenced by his inclusion in the Education Power 50 in New Jersey in 2021. Furthermore, his exceptional contributions to the fields of business and entrepreneurship were underscored in 2018 when he was named one of the Top 50 African American Professionals and Entrepreneurs in Houston, TX. Additionally, Tillis holds the prestigious distinction of being awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Brazil in 2009-10, where he conducted research and academic endeavors at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Tillis, who is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, is a noted scholar in the field of Afro-Hispanic studies. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Brazil in 2009, and he has presented his scholarship at lectures and conferences across the United States and around the world. He is author and coeditor of several books, including Manuel Zapata Olivella and the Darkening of Latin American Literature, The Trayvon Martin in ‘US’: An American Tragedy (Peter Lang, 2015), The Afro-Hispanic Reader and Anthology (Randal Publishing, 2018), and Critical Perspectives on Afro-Latin American Literature (Routledge, 2012). He has served as editor of the journal Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association, as coeditor of the Afro-Hispanic Review, and as associate editor of the International Journal of Comparative Literature and Translation Studies.

Tillis is a founding board member of the International Institute of Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership and serves on several professional and community based including the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), Campus Compact, African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), the Coriell Institute for Medical Research Board, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce CEO’s Circle, and the Camden Community Partnership (CCP) to name but a few. Most recently, he was appointed to serve as a distinguished scholar at the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

A first-generation college student, Tillis holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in Spanish literature from Howard University. He earned his Ph.D. in Latin American literature (with an Afro-Hispanic emphasis) from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay.

He enjoys performing as a lyric baritone and collecting contemporary art from West Africa, Cuba, Brazil, and the United States.