United Airlines history makers visit DSU

As part of its partnership with Delaware State University’s Aviation Program, United Airlines sent some of its top people to pay a Nov. 20 visit to the campus.

That included United Airlines President Brett Hart, Phil Griffith, Vice President of UA Houston Hub, UA Capt. Theresa Claiborne, the first-ever female African America pilot, and UA First Officer Tevin Williamson, a 2017 product of the DSU Aviation Program. 
Mr. Hart arrived on Nov. 19 and spent some time at Delaware Airpark with some of the DSU Aviation students. On the morning of Nov. 20 Mr. Hart and his United Airlines team participated in a program in the Bank of America Building’s Longwood Auditorium.

Mr. Hart told the audience of DSU students that United Airlines was at DSU to recruit the immense student talent that exists at Delaware’s only Historically Black Institution of Higher Education. He shared many things he had learned in his career, such as the importance of relationships, networking, learning from those times when things do not go right. Mr. Hart said he does not believe in using the word “failure.”

“You have to take those lessons and build on them,” said Mr. Hart, who is the first African American to head a major airline company. “Those are things that will help you when you really need it. I draw from those experience every single day.”

As if that was not enough, the speaker that followed him was also a history maker – Capt. Teresa Claiborne, who in 1982 became the first-ever female African American pilot in the U.S. Air Force. She later also became a pilot for United Airlines, from which she retired earlier this year.

Capt. Claiborne shared a lesson she learned as a child when she complained to her mother about not getting an A after getting an 89% on a test. Her mother told her that if she wants to get an A, she needed to do work worthy of that grade.

“Nobody is going to give you anything. Do A work and get an A. There are no free handouts,” Capt. Claiborne said. “We want you at United and we want your best, so come with your A.”

The visiting United Airlines officials made it clear to the students that their interest in DSU talent goes far beyond the University’s Aviation Program. They noted that students from many of the other academic programs can find career opportunities with United Airlines. 

In late 2023, DSU and United Airlines finalized an agreement that provides DSU Aviation students with an opportunity to enter UA’s United Aviate, a pilot career development program that can lead to a position as a First Officer for the airline.

The partnership reflects United Airlines commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, a point noted by DSU President Tony Allen when United and the University first announced plans for the partnership in 2020.

“When it comes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, you cannot hope for better. You have to do better,” said Dr. Allen. “That starts with leadership and partnership. As the No. 1 provider of pilots of color in the country, we’re proud of United’s leadership and excited about the partnership.    

Currently in the first year of the United Aviate in connection with the University’s Aviation Program, there are eight DSU Aviation majors who have been accepted into the program.