Dr Kristen Allen
Convenor Enabling Pathways
Pathways and Academic Learning Support (Sociology)
- Email:kristen.allen@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:0243484287
Career Summary
Biography
Kristen is the Program Convenor for the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre.
Research
In 2025, Kristen completed her PhD in sociology where she explored the successes of enabling students that occur beyond what the numerical data reveals, and why the definition of ‘success’ in higher education needs to be revisited to be more inclusive.
Kristen has also worked individually and collaboratively to contribute to research focused on inclusive and innovative approaches to pedagogy and student support.
Kristen has presented her research at a number of national and international conferences including the 2019 NAEAA conference (Aus), 2019 Youth Studies conference (Aus), 2018 FABENZ conference (NZ) and 2015 NAEEA conference (Aus).
Grants
2021- New Research Concepts - $3000
2019 - Success from the Perspective of the Successful: Low SES Students, Success and Completion in Higher Education - $325,672
2018 - New Research Concepts - $3000
2018 - New Research Concepts top-up - $500
Awards
2019 Runner-Up Best Presentation NAEEA Conference
2018 Vice Chancellor's award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning
2018 Academic Division Award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning
2018 Academic Division Award for Health and Safety Excellence
2018 ELFSC Award for Health and Safety Excellence
2015 ELFCC Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Enabling Programs
Teaching
After earning her Bachelor Teaching / Bachelor Arts degree (Hons), Kristen began teaching in secondary education in English and Drama. Motivated by exploring pathways to tertiary education, she accepted an academic employment with the University of Newcastle's Open Foundation program. Kristen has coordinated 16 courses in Academic Literacies, Sociology and Education, all with SFC/SFT/CES ‘Teaching’ scores above the UON average.
Governance and Administration
Program Convenor - Callaghan - 2019-2025
Program Convenor - Ourimbah - 2019-2021
Deputy Program Convenor - Ourimbah (2016 - 2019)
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee - (2015 - Present)
Member of the PALS Board - (2017 - Present)
Discipline Coordinator (Humanities) (2015)
Academic Advisor (2009-2010)
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts (Hons), University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Enabling
- Sociology
- Sociology of Education
- Teritary education
Languages
- English (Fluent)
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 390203 | Sociology of education | 100 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Convenor Enabling Pathways | University of Newcastle Education and Innovation Australia |
Teaching appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 6/1/2020 - | Program Convenor | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 27/7/2016 - 5/1/2020 | Deputy Program Convenor | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 1/6/2014 - 31/12/2015 | Discipline Coordinator (Humanities) | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 1/1/2014 - |
Course Coordinator / Lecturer Academic Literacies 1 and 2 - The core Newstep courses |
English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle Newstep Australia |
Awards
Award
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
Enabling Excellence through Equity Conference - Runner Up - Best Presentation NAEEA / EPHEA |
| 2018 |
Academic Division Award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning University of Newcastle, Academic Division - Newcastle |
| 2018 |
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning - Divisional Award The University of Newcastle |
| 2018 |
Academic Division Award for Health and Safety Excellence University of Newcastle, Academic Division - Newcastle |
| 2015 |
ELFSC Teaching and Learning Award English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPHUMA137 |
Australian Culture and Society English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
Course Coordinator | 1/1/2013 - 31/12/2015 |
| EPHUMA148 |
Introduction to Linguistics English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
Course Coordinator | 1/1/2014 - 31/12/2015 |
| EPHUMA123 |
Academic Literacies 2 English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
Course Coordinator | 1/1/2014 - 31/12/2019 |
| EPHUMA122 |
Academic Literacies 1 English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle Academic Literacies 1 and 2 are the 'core' Newstep courses. |
Course Coordinator | 1/1/2014 - 31/12/2019 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Highlighted Publications
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Allen K, '“When does hot become cold?”: Why we should be disrupting narrow and exclusive discourses of success in higher education', International Studies in Widening Participation, 7, 8-21 (2020) [C1] | Open Research Newcastle | |||
| 2022 |
Bennett A, MacQueen S, 'Success from the perspective of the successful: equity, success and completion in higher education' (2022)
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||
| 2025 | Allen K, 'Re-imagining Success: Narratives of Enabling Students in Higher Education' | Open Research Newcastle |
Conference (6 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Allen K, O'Neill R, 'Generation Z goes to University: Addressing the generation divide in enabling education,' (2019) | ||
| 2019 | Allen K, 'Re-imagining ‘success’ through enabling student narratives' (2019) | ||
| 2019 | Allen K, 'Re-thinking ‘success’ for the new generation' (2019) | ||
| Show 3 more conferences | |||
Journal article (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Allen K, '“When does hot become cold?”: Why we should be disrupting narrow and exclusive discourses of success in higher education', International Studies in Widening Participation, 7, 8-21 (2020) [C1] | Open Research Newcastle |
Other (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Allen K, '“Success to me is learning, regardless of my grade”: Why we should be disrupting narrow and exclusive discourses of success in higher education' (2020) |
Presentation (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Allen K, 'Reframing Student Success in Higher Education' (2019) |
Report (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 |
Bennett A, MacQueen S, 'Success from the perspective of the successful: equity, success and completion in higher education' (2022)
|
Open Research Newcastle |
Thesis / Dissertation (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Allen K, 'Re-imagining Success: Narratives of Enabling Students in Higher Education' | Open Research Newcastle |
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 4 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $242,237 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
Highlighted grants and funding
Success from the Perspective of the Successful: Low SES Students, Success and Completion in Higher Education$235,737
Funding body: Department of Education and Training
| Funding body | Department of Education and Training |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Professor Penny Jane Burke, Doctor Olivia Evans, Associate Professor Anna Bennett, Professor Sarah O'Shea, Doctor Kristen Allen, Associate Professor Nida Denson, Nida Denson, Professor Peter Howley, Doctor Suzanne Macqueen, Dr Carmen Mills, Carmen Mills, Dr Ryan Naylor, Ryan Naylor, Associate Professor Maria Raciti, Ms Olivia Evans, Maria Raciti, Aprof MARK Rubin |
| Scheme | Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Programme (HEPPP) |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | G1900344 |
| Type Of Funding | C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose |
| Category | 2100 |
| UON | Y |
The failure of metrics of success in higher education policy and pedagogy: student perceptions of academic capability and achievement$3,000
Funding body: English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Kristen Allen |
| Scheme | New Research Concept Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2018 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
The failure of metrics of success in higher education policy and pedagogy: student perceptions of academic capability and achievement$500
Funding body: English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Scheme | New Research Concept Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20211 grants / $3,000
Entry barriers and equity in STEM-based tertiary learning$3,000
Funding body: Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre
| Funding body | Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr. Stephen Allen and Dr. Heath Jones |
| Scheme | New Research Concepts Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2021 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20191 grants / $235,737
Success from the Perspective of the Successful: Low SES Students, Success and Completion in Higher Education$235,737
Funding body: Department of Education and Training
| Funding body | Department of Education and Training |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Professor Penny Jane Burke, Doctor Olivia Evans, Associate Professor Anna Bennett, Professor Sarah O'Shea, Doctor Kristen Allen, Associate Professor Nida Denson, Nida Denson, Professor Peter Howley, Doctor Suzanne Macqueen, Dr Carmen Mills, Carmen Mills, Dr Ryan Naylor, Ryan Naylor, Associate Professor Maria Raciti, Ms Olivia Evans, Maria Raciti, Aprof MARK Rubin |
| Scheme | Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Programme (HEPPP) |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | G1900344 |
| Type Of Funding | C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose |
| Category | 2100 |
| UON | Y |
20182 grants / $3,500
The failure of metrics of success in higher education policy and pedagogy: student perceptions of academic capability and achievement$3,000
Funding body: English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Kristen Allen |
| Scheme | New Research Concept Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2018 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
The failure of metrics of success in higher education policy and pedagogy: student perceptions of academic capability and achievement$500
Funding body: English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Scheme | New Research Concept Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
Dr Kristen Allen
Position
Convenor Enabling Pathways
Pathways and Academic Learning Support
Engagement and Equity Division
Focus area
Sociology
Contact Details
| kristen.allen@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | 0243484287 |
| Link |
