Mrs Kristen Allen

Kristen is the Program Convenor for the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre.  She is also the Course Coordinator of Academic Literacies 1 and 2 - the core courses in the Newstep Program.

Research

In 2017, Kristen began her PhD in sociology where she plans to explore the successes of enabling students that occur beyond what the numerical data reveals, and look to why the definition of ‘success’ in higher education needs to be revisited in order to be more inclusive.

In 2018, Kristen was the recipient of the ELFSC New Research Concepts grant, where she explored student perceptions of academic capability and achievement against metrics of success in higher education policy and pedagogy. She presented her findings at the 2018 FABENZ conference in Wellington, NZ.

In 2017, Kristen also presented a workshop at the NAEEA conference presenting the findings of her PhD research to date, regarding the effects of limiting definitions of success on students.

In 2015, in her role as Discipline Coordinator (Humanities), Kristen undertook research on why enabling practice in assessment is at variance with first year undergraduate practice in the Humanities discipline. Kristen presented her findings at the annual NAEEA conference. 

During the same year, Kristen also co-wrote a peer-reviewed conference paper entitled "Engaging enabling students by integrating themes of social equity and justice into enabling programs".

Awards

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

Grants

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 

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 employment with the University of Newcastle's Newstep Program and is currently coordinating the Program's two compulsory Academic Literacies courses.

Since joining the English Language and Foundation Studies Centre in 2008, Kristen has also coordinated Australian Culture and Society, and Linguistics, as well as tutored in Foundations in Education, in the Open Foundation Program.

Governance and Administration

Program Convenor - Ourimbah - 2019-2021

Deputy Program Convenor - Ourimbah (2016 - 2019)

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee - Ourimbah (2015 - Present)

Member of the ELFSC Board - Ourimbah (2017 - Present)

Discipline Coordinator (Humanities) (2015)

Academic Advisor (2009-2010)