Dr. Allen joined the Department of Behavioral Sciences in 2021. His areas of research and interest include higher education, faith and culture, media and digital technology, sports and criminology. He has a keen interest in applied sociology and has participated in initiatives aimed at assessing community health needs, addressing hunger and poverty, and unraveling educational inequity. He is currently working on research related to college athletics, the American judicial selection process, digital media and relationships, and religion in the lives of college students.
He teaches a variety of courses including Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of the Family, Ethnic Relations, Urban and Rural Sociology, and Research Methods. He has lived in Europe, Asia, and North America and is passionate about bringing a global perspective to bear on both Sociology and Christianity. He is a member of the American Sociological Association and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.
He and his wife, Laura, met at Olivet and have two kids – Kaya and Levi. They enjoy playing board games, tasting new ice cream flavors and visiting national parks. Dr. Allen is also into biking, running and playing chess. He follows the NBA and the Green Bay Packers.
