Dr. Allen’s email is allen@roanoke.edu

How long have you been at Roanoke College?

Over 20 years!

What do you teach here?

Right now I mostly teach Drugs and Behavior, Introductory Psychology, and Biological Psychology.  I have also taught Abnormal, Neuroscience and Learning. I also teach a INQ 110 course themed around marijuana.

Where did you go to school?

I got my B.A. in Psychology at UNC-Wilmington, where I’m from, in 1986 and my Ph.D. in Experimental and Biological Psychology, with a minor in Neuroscience, from UNC in 1992.

What do you like about Roanoke College? 

The relationships and the closeness of everyone in the college.  Here, people really know each other.  A lot of alumni work here, many of whom I’ve taught, and I’ve taught many faculty and staff’s kids.  I feel that I can make a difference to students here in a way that would be hard at a bigger or less close school.

What do you do in HPAG?

My specialty is genetic counseling, which I appreciate because I have a son with Down syndrome and a genetic counselor provided us with a lot of information and support.

Why should students engage with HPAG?  The HPAG advisors are a great source of information and advice, much of which you might not know you need: you don’t have to have a 4.0 for medical school, but you really do need some shadowing experience, for example.   Many pre-health graduate programs require an interview, and we can help you practice for your interview so that you’re more confident when the time comes.  We can help you craft your personal statement.  And programs often want a committee letter, which we can provide.

What is a fun fact that people might not know?  On Pokemon Go, I am level 40 on team Valor, which is the red team and also the correct team.  I often find myself taking over the directional sign from those pesky chemists on the blue team.  Also, I bake so much that my husband got me vanity plates that read “Bakalot”.  And I ran my first 5 K this summer.

What advice would I give to students?

Go to class, pay attention, turn in assignments and that’s often half the battle if not more.  Talk to your professors early and often: we are on your side!   And get to know at least one professor well enough for him or her to write you an informed letter of recommendation.