Allen brings over 15 years of experience working in the field of disability services in higher education across multiple institutions. Over the course of his career, he has served diverse student populations, managed disability service departments, and progressively taken on increased professional responsibilities, earning recognition in the field. From 2020-2023, Allen served on the Board of Directors for the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), further contributing to the advancement of disability services in higher education, including working to draft the AHEAD Statement of Language, which moved the field to a disability-centered identity-first model.
Allen joins MSU from Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services at The University of Michigan, where he has been Associate Director since September 2021. In this role, he provided leadership and management of Services for Students with Disabilities and Testing Accommodation Center, overseeing 24 full-time professional employees. Upon joining SAAS, he established a Testing Accommodations Center that supports accommodated testing for the entire campus community, facilitating over 12,000 exams in the recent academic year. He also oversaw an overhaul of disability accommodations for students and spearheaded the transition to a new data management platform.
Prior to joining UM, Allen was Director of the Office of Disability Services at Rutgers University-Newark. He successfully expanded the team from two individuals to four, secured funding for a position dedicated to psychoeducational testing for students, led a multi-department “stop the stigma” initiative, and served as the campus expert on disability compliance issues.
The child of two teachers from Dayton, Ohio, Allen believes that education can be a great equalizer and change agent, but only when it is accessible to all. Allen is committed to providing access and inclusion for individuals with mental, physical, and/or medical conditions with an identify-first and intersectional lens. Allen’s work is driven by his passion and commitment to removing systematic barriers to access, beginning within a disability service office. He has a proven record in proactive action, establishing relationships with campus partners, building strong teams, and creating opportunities for them to thrive, and is committed to outreach, consultation, and education to ensure an accessible and inclusive university community.
As a person who identifies as Deaf (Hard of Hearing; fluent in American Sign Language), neurodivergent, and disabled, Allen’s journey greatly influences his commitment to access and inclusion. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Wright State University in Ohio and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
In his role as RCPD Director, Allen will set the strategic direction for RCPD and engage the campus community in creating, strengthening, and maintaining a culture of access, holistic wellbeing, and belonging that supports disabled students, faculty, and staff.
Welcome, Allen!