Alena Allen, associate dean for research and faculty development and professor of law, has been named interim dean of the School of Law at the University of Arkansas. Before joining the University of Arkansas last year, Professor Allen 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. Her research interests include the intersection of health policy and critical feminist theory.
At the University of Memphis, Professor Allen led the campus-wide Eradicating Racism Initiative. She also served as Memphis law school faculty senator, director of diversity, and director of faculty research for Memphis Law.
“It is a privilege and honor to serve as interim dean,” Professor Allen said. “I am very excited about collaborating with my amazing faculty colleagues, staff, students, and alumni over the next year to continue moving the law school forward.”
Professor Allen is a graduate of Loyola University, where she majored in psychology. She earned a juris doctorate from Yale Law School.