Karen Allen

Dr. Karen Allen is an Associate Professor of Sustainability Science and Anthropology at Furman University, where she has been a faculty member since 2016. Her work bridges cultural anthropology, ecological economics, and landscape ecology to address social-ecological system sustainability, with a focus on Latin America. She leads engaged research programs in Costa Rica, supporting grassroots conservation and sustainable farming. Allen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and a B.A. from Williams College.

Her research emphasizes the complex interplay between human behavior and environmental policy, particularly in contexts like Costa Rica’s landscape conservation efforts. Key themes include social capital’s role in conservation, relational values in governance, and the critique of neoliberal approaches to environmental management. Allen has secured grants from the USDA, NSF, and Wenner-Gren Foundation, and was honored with the Henry Keith and Ellen Hard Townes Endowed Professorship in 2021.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Georgia; B.A., Williams College
• Grants: USDA Sustainable Agriculture Grant, NSF Doctoral Dissertation Grant
• Research Focus: Sustainability science, Latin American conservation, community-based approaches

Allen’s publications span topics like cultural ecosystem services, landscape-level policy impacts, and participatory methodologies. She advocates for inclusive governance models that integrate diverse perspectives to achieve equitable environmental outcomes.