Education and career

Allen was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Seat Pleasant, Maryland. She earned a B.A. with a double major in French and Linguistics at Central College in Pella, Iowa in 1978. In her study abroad year (1976-1977), she earned a Certificate in French Civilization from the Sorbonne in Paris. From 1987–1989 she completed an M.A. in Human Resources Management at George Washington University while concurrently filling her domestic assignment at the Department of State. She speaks French and Mandarin Chinese.

Allen was commissioned into the U.S. diplomatic service in January 1980. On October 26, 2005, President George W. Bush nominated her to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Niger. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 16, 2006, and sworn in as ambassador on March 28, 2006.

State Department career

Foreign assignments

Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2002–2005)
Consular Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2000–2002)
Consular Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, China (1991–1994)
Student of Mandarin Chinese at the American Institute in Taiwan (1990)
Temporary duty assignment as Consul at the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka, Japan (1984)
Consul at the U.S. Embassy, Manila, Philippines (1982–1984)
General Services Officer/Vice Consul at the U.S. Embassy in Bujumbura, Burundi (1980–1982)

Domestic assignments

Director of the Visa Office Coordination Division (1998–2000)
Legislative Management Officer (1996–1998)
Deputy Director of Consular Training at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC) (1994–1996)
Student of Mandarin Chinese at National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC) (1989)
Visa officer in the Visa Office Coordination Division (1985–1989)
Desk officer in the Africa Bureau’s Regional Affairs Office (1985–1987)

Awards

Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (2013) from Central College (Pella, Iowa)
Superior Honor Award for performance of mission in the Republic of Niger (2009)
Superior Honor Award for leadership as Consul General in Montreal (2005)
Superior Honor Award for outstanding leadership and performance as Visa Coordination Division Director (1998-2000)
Meritorious Honor Award for outstanding managerial and professional skills in Guangzhou, China (1993)

Affiliations and activities

Central College (Pella, Iowa) Board of Trustees (2013-present)
U.S. Foreign Service Grievance Board member (2013-2023)
Lifetime membership in the U.S. Tennis Association
Usher Board Chairman at the Carmody Hills Baptist Church in Seat Pleasant, Maryland (1997-2000, 2010-present)
President of the Central College African-American Student Organization (Pella, Iowa) (1978)
Member of service sorority Alpha Delta Epsilon (Pella, Iowa)
Big Sisters of the Washington, DC Metropolitan area volunteer (1984-1988)