Patrick Allen, Dean of the School of Education at Union Graduate College and professor of education and English, received his PhD in English and American Studies from Indiana University in 1974. He also holds an MA in English from Indiana University and a BA in English, and California teacher certification in English and Social Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. Awarded two N.D.E.A. Fellowships and three Ford Foundation developmental grants, he has taught English at Indiana University, Coe College, and Union College. He has directed over $3 million dollars of professional development grants, including awards from the General Electric Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, Travelers’ Insurance, State Farm Insurance, the U.S. Department of Education, and the New York State Education Department. He served on the New York State Standards and Practices Board for Teaching for eight years, acting as the Chair of the Higher Education Sub-Committee (7 years) and Co-Chair of the Board (1 year). The Board advises the Commissioner of Education, the Regents, and the State Education Department on education policy. A major focus during his tenure was establishing the standards for conducting statewide reviews for Regents Accreditation of Teacher Education (RATE).

In addition to serving as Dean of the School of Education, he teaches core courses in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, academic courses in English and History, and several professional development courses for teachers. His research interests include English education, mentoring in public schools, and National Board Certification. He and a colleague created the first National Board Certification support group in New York State; they also established protocols and policies for Facilitators’ Institutes to train NBC teachers to create and operate effective National Board Certification support groups. Under his direction Union’s Master of Arts in Teaching program received initial accreditation (2003) and continuing accreditation (2008) by Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). He is the consultant who brought the International Baccalaureate program to Schenectady Schools and he directs a teacher exchange with Barbados. His publications include articles on school reform, a book of Washington Irving’s short stories, and a first-prize winning essay from the New York Stock Exchange on economics education in schools. With two co-authors, he published a book on methods of establishing effective National Board Certification support groups.