Alaine M. Allen, EdD
Interim Associate Vice Provost for Student Access Initiatives and Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Outreach, College of Engineering and Distinguished Service Professor, Engineering and Public Policy
Alaine Allen is a dedicated and experienced educator who has intentionally worked to uplift the voices of and create opportunities for all while intentionally including individuals from groups historically overlooked, underestimated, or marginalized. She is committed to creating a culture of inclusive excellence that enables the entire community to collaborate, bridge differences and thrive together.
Allen’s professional experiences include teaching high school physics, directing pre-college and undergraduate student success programs in engineering, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on National Science Foundation funded projects, and partnering with the broader Greater Pittsburgh community. Allen is a member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
In recognition of her work as an educator, Allen received a NSBE Golden Torch Award in 2012, the Lottie P. Edwards Community Award for STEM from the Mt. Ararat Community Center in 2016, the University of Pittsburgh Division of Student Affairs Art Ramicone Unsung Hero Award in 2019, the Onyx Women Leadership Award in 2023, the Pittsburgh Business Times Women of Influence Award in 2023, the Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence Award in 2024, and the Phi Sigma Rho Engineering Sorority Engineering Champion Award in 2025.
Allen has a BS degree in physics education from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, as well as a M.Ed. degree in policy, planning, and evaluation and an Ed.D. degree in higher education management, both from the University of Pittsburgh.