Kelly Allen

Assistant Professor

Kelly Allen

Assistant Professor

Academic Appointment(s)

College of Education and Human Development
Department of Research. Counseling & Curriculum

Bio

Kelly R. Allen, Ph.D earned her B.S. in Urban Social Studies Education, M.A. in Urban Social Studies Education, and PhD in Urban Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Guided by perspectives grounded in critical race theory and Black feminism, Kelly’s research examines hip-hop education as a liberatory praxis. Ultimately, Kelly aims to illuminate the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness in education and center the experiences and perspectives of Black students, teachers, and communities.

Education

  • Ph.D., Urban Education, PhD w/ emphasis in curriculum and instruction University of Wisconsin - Milw, 2022

  • MS, Urban Education, PhD w/ emphasis in curriculum and instruction University of Wisconsin - Milw, 2018

  • CER, Education, Other University of Wisconsin - Milw, 2017

  • BS, Urban Social Studies University of Wisconsin - Milw, 2015

Awards & Honors

  • Article of the Year Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, 2022

Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year

  • EDUC 7007

    Cultural Studies in Ed
  • EDCI 7364

    Improving Instruction
  • EDUC 7010

    Urban Ed Policy and Practice

Teaching Interests

Kelly enjoys teaching courses that examine issues of race, justice, and equity in education.

Scholarship

Selected Recent Publications

  • "The 13th Amendment, It Don't Say That We Kings": Teaching the History of Mass Incarceration and Criminal Justice Reform Through Hip-Hop Pedagogy, 2022
    Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
  • “Good Teachers” with “Good Intentions”: Misappropriations of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, 2020
    Journal Article, Academic Journal

Research Interests

Kelly's research explores pedagogical and curricular implementations of hip-hop education. Kelly is specifically interested in how race and racism influence the implementation of hip-hop in educational spaces. Guided by perspectives grounded in critical race theory and Black feminism, Kelly’s research examines hip-hop education as a liberatory praxis. Ultimately, Kelly aims to illuminate the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness in education and center the experiences and perspectives of Black students, teachers, and communities.

Professional Service

  • Hip Hop Theories, Praxis and Pedagogies SIG of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2022 - Present

    Role: Committee Chair