Lawrence R. Allen
Dr. Lawrence R. Allen was Dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Development at Clemson University, from August 2001, to July, 2014, and has been a faculty member in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Development since 1989 where he served as its Chair for seven years.
He received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in recreation and park administration with a specialty area in counseling.
Prior to joining Clemson, he was head of the Department of Leisure Studies, University of Illinois and before that, Chair, Recreation and Leisure Studies Department, Temple University.
He has also been a 4-H agent, public school teacher and park supervisor.
In 1995, he served as President of the Academy, and in 1996, he was elected to the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration.
His primary interest focuses on the impact of recreation and park experiences on individual and community well-being.
He has authored, with colleagues from Clemson University, several articles and manuals revolving around the development and implementation of an outcome based model of youth program delivery that enhances the youth’s ability to overcome and cope with the stress and pressures they face in today’s social environment.
Additionally, he was instrumental in the development of a Master’s degree in Youth Development Leadership at Clemson University and he is very interested in the integration of free-choice learning experiences with the more traditional educational systems employed within the United States and throughout the world.
Over the past several years he has worked in East Africa focused on developing more sustainable management systems for parks and protected areas as well as building more sustainable youth development systems in developing countries. Recently he was a visiting professor at Maasai Mara University, Kenya for five months.
Expertise: sustainable development; international park and protected area management; positive youth development systems-domestically and internationally; outcome based programming for recreation services; effective leadership in parks and recreation systems; impact of recreation, parks and tourism services on community quality of life
Email: lalln@clemson.edu