Laurie Melnik Allen

Laurie Melnik Allen serves as the Lyndhurst Chair of Excellence in Arts Education and Professor of Practice in the Department of Theatre at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), overseeing the UT system’s only K-12 theatre certification pathway. Nationally recognized for interdisciplinary impact, she integrates applied theatre, design thinking, and Universal Design for Learning to foster creativity and belonging in learners.

Her academic credentials include:

• MPA in Nonprofit Management, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2013)
• MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences, University of Central Florida (2008)
• BA in English with Drama emphasis, Webster University (2005)

Allen’s research centers on theatre education’s transformative potential across disciplines, focusing on Social-Emotional Learning through theatre, applied creativity with emerging technologies like AI, and UDL-aligned assessment practices. Her work bridges K-12 arts integration, STEAM education, and healthcare training via simulated patient actors to address burnout and digital equity.

Her publications demonstrate consistent interdisciplinary application, with recent emphasis on resiliency curricula for medical trainees, digital inclusion strategies in teacher education, and practical frameworks for inclusive theatre pedagogy.

Allen holds the prestigious Lyndhurst Chair of Excellence in Arts Education award.

She mentors students through UTC’s UT Promise program and serves on university committees including Curriculum and Assessment and the Institute for Contemporary Art Strategic Plan. External service includes ArtsEd Tennessee board membership and Tennessee Arts Commission grant panel duties since 2015.

Allen collaborates extensively with nursing and social work disciplines on simulated patient actor programs and rural arts initiatives, building community-focused solutions through applied theatre.