She received her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served as a first grade teacher and literacy specialist in the Houston Independent School District from 2001-2008. After completion of her M.Ed. from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, she served as the Director of College Counseling and Alumni Programs at YES Prep Public Schools from 2008-2012. In 2010, she completed her Ph.D. in Educational Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Urban Education from Texas A&M University. Most recently she completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at The Urban Education Collaborative at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Allen’s research examines issues of access, equity, achievement, and social justice within urban schools and communities.