Lawrence R. Allen currently serves as Professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. Dr. Allen served as Dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Development at Clemson University, from May 2003 until his retirement in July 2014. He received his PhD from the University of Maryland in recreation with a specialty area in counseling, and his undergraduate degree in education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Allen has been an active leader in education for the past 34 years. Along with colleagues at Clemson University, he has authored several articles and manuals revolving around the development and implementation of an outcome-based model (Benefits-Based Programming) of youth program delivery that enhances the youth’s ability to overcome and cope with the stress and pressures they face in today’s social environment.
During his tenure as Dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Development at Clemson, Dr. Allen exerted significant influence on the practice of dropout prevention. He was a solid supporter of the National Dropout Prevention Center, helping the organization to secure funding for research and national service and initiatives. Under Dean Allen’s leadership, the National Dropout Prevention Center initiated new research, expanded to address the needs of students with disabilities, and offered over 30 national dropout prevention conferences and training events. In recent years, Dr. Allen spoke and wrote extensively on the importance of out-of-school factors on school completion and helped the National Dropout Prevention Center call attention to the importance of family and community support for school success and graduation. By highlighting the importance of out-of-school risk factors and out-of-school solutions, Dr. Allen has made a significant contribution to the work of dropout prevention practitioners.