Carl Allen, the William D. and Mary Grant/Missouri Endowed Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has received the 2025 Ellis Marsalis, Jr. Educator of the Year Award from the Jazz Education Network. The network is a national organization dedicated to supporting the jazz arts community through advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences.
Professor Allen has been a faculty member with the UMKC Conservatory since 2021. Prior to his current role, he served as the artistic director of jazz studies at the Juilliard School in New York City. Outside of his career in academia, Allen has played the drums with several Grammy Award-winning jazz performers, leading to a body of work that includes more than 225 recordings.
Professor Allen received a bachelor of music degree in jazz studies and performance from what is now William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.
