Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now! 

What led you to your career path? 

The power of education has never been lost on me! I knew for a long time that I wanted to do something in the education space because my mother was a teacher, and I was always reflecting on my own schooling experiences, considering what was working and what could be better. Then, in high school, I became more interested in working with people with disabilities and promoting more inclusive contexts. As a result, I pursued school psychology and applied behavior analysis, which allowed me to pursue innovations in schools and in support of students with disabilities.

While pursuing my graduate degree, I worked as a behavioral consultant in a rural school district in Mississippi. This was a transformative experience, as it allowed me to work both at the systems level or district-wide level, as well as in specific classrooms and with specific students and teachers. I have been and continue to be fascinated by how small changes on a big, systems level can meaningfully impact student experiences in learning, autonomy, and belonging. These small changes happen through more education, training, and support—with professionals in schools!

Prior to coming to SUNY Empire, I served as a program director in a K-12 special education setting which further highlighted the importance of systematic, collaborative, and high-quality education, training, and support for educators to meaningfully impact student outcomes.  This experience advanced my interest in moving into higher education where I would have the opportunity to support future behavior analysts, who could then become change agents in their institutions, and support their expertise in neuro-affirming, culturally responsive, and affirming practice.  

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?

Its values around access, equity, and inclusion. I am proud to be a member of a dedicated team who is deeply committed to student success and well-being, and is willing to collaborate and innovate to enhance student experiences. Equally, the students at our university are the best. I grow more and more impressed each time I have the opportunity to learn more about my students and advisees—their goals, their rich lives, and all the experience and expertise they are bringing to their current higher education experience. I am confident that our graduates’ commitment to access and equity will have far-reaching implications for so many others. 

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?

It has been joyful to build authentic, trusting relationships with my students and advisees. Watching their progression from entering the program while they navigated their own lives with their beautiful families, work, and other responsibilities, through graduation and remaining in contact with them post-graduation, having them reach out to share achievements and ask questions—it’s an experience I don’t think I will ever take for granted!

What’s something you’ve learned from a colleague here?

This is a particularly hard question—I learn from my brilliant and committed colleagues every time I interact with them. I’ll share only one that I have had the fortune to experience repeatedly across my career at Empire: the value of collegial mentorship and support. I am endlessly grateful for the encouragement, guidance, and grace that my colleagues continually offer to me, and I hope to pay those kindnesses forward. 

Sweet or savory—what wins every time?

Well, I will use the evidence of the chocolate wrappers sitting on my desk currently that it must be sweets for me!