Dr. Emily Allen is Dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles, where she created the Acceleration Initiative, comprised of a series of outreach and early career undergraduate programs to ensure students are well-prepared for their studies and have available all the necessary support to achieve academic and professional success. Under her leadership the College launched the donor-funded Sikand Center for Sustainable and InTelligent Infrastructure (SITI-Center), a research unit devoted to bringing faculty, students, and private and public sector entities together to work on sustainable solutions for Los Angeles and beyond.
Dr. Allen previously served San José State University as Associate Dean, Chair and faculty in Materials Engineering. She earned her BS in Metallurgy and Materials Science from Columbia University, and her MS and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. She started her technical career as a welder, then attended community college before entering a four-year engineering program. Dr. Allen chaired the ASEE Engineering Deans Council Diversity Committee, where she led the operationalization of the Deans Diversity Recognition Program. She serves as an ABET EAC commissioner, chaired the ABET Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and serves on the Board of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.