Research Interests
My research program has four major thrusts: a) to examine systems change processes in the response to social issues (namely, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and juvenile delinquency) and the role of collaborative settings in facilitating such change; b) to explore the experiences of individuals as they navigate complex systems (formal systems such as criminal justice, human service, health care, as well as informal systems such as faith-based settings, sororities, and social networks); c) to investigate the effectiveness of social interventions that aim to alter the contexts of individuals’ lives to promote health and well-being; and d) to examine the gendered nature and context of intimate partner violence.
Research Description
My research program has four major thrusts: a) to examine systems change processes in the response to social issues (namely, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and juvenile delinquency) and the role of collaborative settings in facilitating such change; b) to explore the experiences of individuals as they navigate complex systems (formal systems such as criminal justice, human service, health care, as well as informal systems such as faith-based settings, sororities, and social networks); c) to investigate the effectiveness of social interventions that aim to alter the contexts of individuals’ lives to promote health and well-being; and d) to examine the gendered nature and context of intimate partner violence.
Education
Ph.D. from Michigan State University
Grants
- 2019 Illinois Department of Public Health. Evaluation of the Center’s for Disease Control Rape Prevention and Education in Illinois. N. Allen, Principal Investigator, $49,903 for Year 1 (of five years); $97,000 anticipated in Year 2.
- 2019 Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. A Proposal to Evaluate the Implementation of Police Department Based Victim Assistance Programs. N. Allen & J. Shaw, Co-Principal Investigators. $100,000.
- 2019 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Evaluation of Mental Health Board Funded Programs. N. Allen & M. Aber, Co-Principal Investigators. $78,792.
- 2018 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Evaluation of Mental Health Board Funded Programs. N. Allen & M. Aber, Co-Principal Investigators. $50,000.
- 2018 Urban Institute, Washington D.C. Center for Victim Research: Research to Practice (R2P) Fellowship. N. Allen, Principal Investigators. I. Griffiths, K. Gehrt, Co-Investigators. $15,000.
- 2017 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Evaluation of Mental Health Board Funded Programs. N. Allen & M. Aber, Co-Principal Investigators. $50,000.
- 2016 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Evaluation of Mental Health Board Funded Programs. N. Allen & M. Aber, Co-Principal Investigators. $50,000 funded.
- 2015 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Evaluation of Mental Health Board Funded Programs. N. Allen & M. Aber, Co-Principal Investigators. $50,000 funded.
- 2014 System of Care Statewide Expansion Implementation Grant. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration Children’s Mental Health Initiative via State of Illinois. M. Aber & N. Allen, Principal Co-Directors of Research Component. $541,760 over four years.
- 2014 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Psychological Services Center Mental Advocacy Programs. N. Allen & E. Shpungin, Co-Principal Investigators. $28,000 funded.
- 2010 Champaign County Community Mental Health Board. Psychological Services Center Mental Health Outreach Initiative. E. Shpungin, N. Allen, & G. Hunt, Principal Investigators. $165,149 funded.
- 2009 Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration Children’s Mental Health Initiative via State of Illinois. N. Allen, & M. Aber, Principal Co-Directors of Research Component. $1,800,000 over six years.
Awards and Honors
- 2017 Julian Rappaport Professorial Scholar in Psychology
- 2016 University Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
- 2016 Fellow, American Psychological Association (APA)
- 2015 Fellow, Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 of the American Psychological Association (APA)
- 2015 Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (APS)
- 2015 Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement for the Psychological Services Center Advocacy Project Director
- 2011 Dazzling Woman Faculty Award, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Women’s Resource Center Annual Awards
- 2009 Helen Corley Petit Scholar for Outstanding Record as an Assistant Professor
External Links
Academic Service
- 2009/2010 Helen Corley Petit Scholar
- 2003 Graduate Student Organization Instructional Award for Outstanding Teaching and Advising of Graduate Students, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
- 2011 Dazzling Woman Faculty Award, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Women’s Resource Center Annual Awards.
- 2015 Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement for the Psychological Services Center Advocacy Project. Project Director.
- 2015 Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (APS)
- 2016 University Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Recent Publications
Fitts, J. J., Aber, M. S., & Allen, N. E. (2019). Individual, Family, and Site Predictors of Youth Receipt of Therapy in Systems of Care. Child and Youth Care Forum, 48(5), 737-755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-019-09504-w
Trawick, E. S., Aber, M., Allen, N., & Fitts, J. (2019). The strength of youth voice: exploring the influence of youth strength-perspectives on desired outcomes for youth enrolled in system-of-care services. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 47(2), 104-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2019.1582146
Walden, A. L., & Allen, N. E. (2019). Examining Correctional Staff Members’ Engagement in Rehabilitation as Part of Their Everyday Practices in Short-term Juvenile Detention. American journal of community psychology, 64(3-4), 310-320. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12369
Calancie, L., Allen, N. E., Ng, S. W., Weiner, B. J., Ward, D. S., Ware, W. B., & Ammerman, A. S. (2018). Evaluating Food Policy Councils Using Structural Equation Modeling. American journal of community psychology, 61(1-2), 251-264. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12207
Dworkin, E. R., & Allen, N. (2018). Correlates of Disclosure Cessation After Sexual Assault. Violence Against Women, 24(1), 85-100. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801216675743
