Stephen Allen

Associate Vice President for International Affairs

  • Cedar City UT UNITED STATES

Specializing in international affairs in higher education, DACA in Utah, and international education partnerships

Contact

Biography

Dr. Stephen Allen serves as associate vice president of international affairs at Southern Utah University. His duties include oversight of international recruitment, international student and scholar services, and The American Language and Culture Center.

In 2017, Dr. Allen was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Germany for developing programs and partnerships, and sharing administrative expertise with universities in Berlin.

An adjunct professor for the SUU Master of Public Administration Program, Dr. Allen teaches courses in higher education and student affairs. His specialties include international enrollment and admissions, international affairs, developing global partnerships, American visa and immigration policy, and international education. In 2008, he was elected to the Iron County School Board and currently serves as board president.

An SUU alumnus, Dr. Allen obtained a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in political science. At University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he earned a master of arts degree in education with specialization in student affairs, and a Ph.D. in higher education leadership.

Spotlight

1 min

International Students Enrich the University Classroom and Bring People Together

Southern Utah University has been ranked the nation’s 35th highest master’s degree-granting university for attracting international students. That’s according to the 2020 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. The Open Doors report is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.Dr. Stephen Allen, associate provost for international affairs at Southern Utah University, oversees international recruitment, international student and scholar services, the university’s Confucius Institute, and The American Language and Culture Center. “The university has been very intentional about growing enrollment from around the world. We are excited to see how our work is paying off,” said Dr. Stephen Allen. “With nearly 70 countries represented on campus, international students enrich the classroom by bringing together people from multiple cultures that makes for a lively and productive learning experience and prepares our students for the world.”Dr. Allen specializes in international enrollment and admissions, international affairs, developing global partnerships, American visa and immigration policy, and international education. He is familiar with the media and available for an interview.

Stephen Allen

2 min

The Struggle for DREAMers in Utah - Explore DACA

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, a third federal judge ruled against the Trump administration’s push to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). U.S. District Judge John Bates called the administration’s attempts to end DACA “arbitrary,” “virtually unexplained,” and “unlawful.” He put a hold on the decision, allowing the Department of Homeland Security 90 days to give better reasoning to cancel the program or it would be fully reinstated.Dr. Stephen Allen, associate provost of International Affairs at Southern Utah University and expert on American immigration policy, sees the struggle for “DREAMers” in Utah and across the nation.“In March, the Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to DACA,” said Dr. Allen. “That decision, along with the April 24 federal court ruling, has taken pressure off of Congress to act on the issue. The result is a great deal of uncertainty for DREAMers, families, and employers.”Originally enacted by President Obama, DACA is an immigration policy that shields undocumented immigrants that were brought to the United States as children. The youth apply to obtain a renewable two-year deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for a work permit. DACA has helped hundreds of thousands obtain driver’s licenses, social security numbers and attend school. Steps to eliminate DACA were initiated by the Trump administration in late 2017, but previous federal rulings have stalled the efforts. “Rescinding DACA would have a tremendous impact on Utah,” said Dr. Allen. “The program has allowed nearly 10,000 young people in Utah to come forward and pass background checks and live legally in the United States. There is strong evidence that the majority of these young people are productive citizens who are gainfully employed and/or enrolled in school. According to the non-profit and non-partisan organization Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), ending DACA would cost Utah alone nearly $476.5 million in annual GDP losses.”Dr. Allen believes that in general, Utahan’s have a strong commitment to keeping families together.“The United States is the only country most DREAMers have known. Deporting nearly 700,000 individuals would result in separation from families and losing the ability to legally work in the United States.” Dr. Allen specializes in international enrollment and admissions, developing global partnerships, and international education. He is familiar with the media and available for an interview.Source:

Stephen Allen

Social

Media

First Lady of the Congo
Cultural Center Dinner Oct. 2022

Industry Expertise

Education/Learning
International Affairs
Recruiting

Areas of Expertise

DACA
DACA in Higher Education
DACA in Utah
Education Abroad
Global Partnerships
History of American Higher Education
International Education
International Affairs
International Affairs in Higher Education
International Education Partnerships
Immigration Policy
Student Affairs in Higher Education
Student Services

Education

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ph.D.

Higher Education Administration

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Student Affairs

M.A.

Southern Utah University

B.A.

Communication

Accomplishments

Fulbright Scholarship

In 2017, Dr. Allen was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Germany for developing programs and partnerships, and sharing administrative expertise with universities in Berlin.

Master Board Award

Utah School Board Association

SUUSA President's Award

Southern Utah University Thunderbird Awards

Affiliations

  • AACRAO - American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
  • Iron County School Board
  • NAFSA - Association of International Educators
  • NASPA - National Association of Student Personnel Administrators

Media Appearances

Center honors Helen Foster Snow

China Daily  online

2022-10-09

Helen Foster Snow seen as representing 'wonderful values' in China-US relations. The cultural center is the first public entity in the US that bears the name of Helen Foster Snow, the American journalist, author and activist who built a bridge of friendship between the US and China, starting in the 1930s. Her memory still inspires collaboration across cultures, ideologies and borders.

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Our Continued Commitment to Being a Global Campus

SUU News  online

2017-02-03

SUU Associate Provost for International Affairs Stephen Allen recalls historical events that can help many students relate to the current situation related to emigration.

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SUU Launches Prestigious Confucius Institute

St. George News  online

2015-10-05

Southern Utah University recently announced the launch of the Confucius Institute on SUU’s campus, which is a partnership with the Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters and Hunan Normal University in China.

“To be awarded as a Confucius Institute is a rare gift, typically given to large research universities,” SUU Vice Provost Dr. Stephen Allen said.

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Articles

SUU’s Dr. Stephen Allen Participates in Fulbright Program

The Independent

2018-01-18

For three weeks in October, Dr. Stephen Allen, associate provost for international affairs at Southern Utah University, traveled to Germany as a part of the German-American Fulbright Program.

Administrators from 12 schools all over the United States with experience in international education are selected each year to travel to Berlin for a comprehensive introduction to the German higher education system and to foster international relationships among institutions of higher learning.

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Courses

PADM 6580 The History of American Higher Education

This course explores the historical foundations and evolution of higher education to understand the emergence of American higher education and some of the social, cultural, and political events of historical significance. Students will develop context from which to appreciate the ever-changing landscape of higher education as well as the impact societal expectations have on higher education.

PADM 6550 Student Affairs in Higher Education

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the Student Affairs profession. Historical, ethical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations are explored. Core competencies and functional areas within the profession, diversity of institutional type, student populations, characteristics of today’s college students, and com temporary issues are examined.