Alena Allen, interim dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law, has accepted the position of deputy director of the Association of American Law Schools, commonly known as AALS, effective August 1. She will remain a tenured professor on the faculty with a reduced teaching and service load, but will conclude her role as interim dean on June 30.
Professor Allen joined the School of Law in 2021 as associate dean for research and faculty development and professor of law. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas faculty, she spent 10 years teaching family law, health law electives, torts, and feminist jurisprudence at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. She also served as co-lead of the University of Memphis campus-wide Eradicating Racism Initiative.
Professor Allen is a graduate of Loyola University, where she majored in psychology. She earned a juris doctorate from Yale Law School.
