Bryn Athyn College Alumni Magazine Spring/Summer 2017 | Page 33

running
header
FACULTY
SPOTLIGHT
continue to grow their civil, moral, low the development
and spiritual lives.
of each class from
Allen also takes the role of start to finish. He de-
facilitator seriously as an admin- scribes the feeling of
istrator. He thinks it is important getting the academic
to listen, support, and empower year underway each
staff and faculty so that they can fall. He says, “All of
bring heart and soul to what they the hustle and bustle
are doing. He adds that his job and logistics culmi-
is “not always to provide answers, nate into that first day
In March, Allen gave a colloquium called Forming a Partnership:
but to grease the wheels.” While of class. It’s sort of a
Reading True Christianity as a Guide Toward Faith. To see the
video of his presentation, go to live.brynathyn.edu.
he practices plenty of conscious slow glow — a feeling
“stepping back” to allow for a pro- of when the aircraft
cess to work, this does not mean pulls away from the gate. Finally walks across the stage. Being a
that he isn’t still pondering on his it’s launched.”
close witness to that culmination
own. One such instance was retold
One of Allen’s responsibili- is, Allen says, “a deep privilege.”
by Ivy Synnestvedt (BA ’15), who ties is to work with students who After all the graduates have re-
works regularly with Allen in the are in academic distress. While not ceived their degrees and returned
registrar’s office: “I’ll never for- a setting for laughter or humor, to their seats, the President has
get the time during our Monday Allen actually feels that this part of them all stand and move their tas-
morning meeting that Allen told his job is one of the most reward- sels to the left side of their caps,
us that he had a revelation about ing. He sees these moments of dif- signifying that they have earned a
a better way to do one of our col- ficulty as opportunities for him to baccalaureate. That is another spe-
lege office processes while he was treat the student with compassion cial moment, recognizing that the
showering over the weekend. We and help to inspire them and show graduates shared important parts
were shocked that that was the them what steps they can take. Al- of their individual journeys.
kind of thing that he was think- len says, “My style isn’t one of
Allen has seen many classes
ing about during his time off, let judgment or disappointment. In- enter through the doors as timid
alone in the shower.”
stead I think, ‘what can we learn freshmen and walk across the
Echoing others’ appreciation from this?’” He adds that a true stage at commencement as proud
for Allen’s humor, Ivy continues, solution for each student must be graduates on their way to the next
“I also love hearing him burst out arrived at through an honest look step. While he can tell you the
into laughter while he’s in meet- at what will best serve that indi- graduation rates, cumulative GPA
ings in his office. He is so profes- vidual. Sometimes that requires trends, and other institutional
sional and determined to find the thinking outside the box, and he statistics from past years, he can
also tell you whether a student
best way to complete any process, is more than happy to do that.
prefers
to be called by a nickname,
but he’s also so kind and thought-
Another favorite moment for
how
to
pronounce the student’s
ful in the moment. He has a way of Allen is during the commence-
name,
and
an interesting story
staying focused but also keeping it ment ceremony when each gradu-
about
each
student.
One gets the
light hearted when things can be.” ate receives her or his degree. Allen
sense
that
Allen
is
bursting
with
And as CAO, things are not always calls the names of each graduate,
lighthearted. His job puts him and just before doing so he looks goodwill — that he cares about
into contact with students dur- at the student to be sure that the and wants the very best for all of
ing some of the most jubilant, but person, name, and diploma match. those around him. The College’s
also the most challenging times in Somehow in that brief instant of registrar, Casey Schauder (AA ’03),
their college careers.
recognition the journey that hu- has worked closely with Allen for
Allen describes some of his fa- man being has been on to come a number of years. Her thoughts
vorite moments as academic dean to this moment seems to be keyed on his sabbatical speak to what
and, perhaps not surprisingly, the up and then portrayed when the makes Allen such a valued mem-
special times he points out fol- student hears her or his name and ber of the College community and
B RY N AT H Y N A LU M N I M AG A Z I N E
| 33