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Kelly-Ann Allen Ph.D.

About

Kelly-Ann Allen, Ph.D., FAPS, is an Associate Professor and educational and developmental psychologist at Monash University, a fellow of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists, and an honorary principal fellow of the University of Melbourne. With more than 10 years of experience as a school psychologist, she currently combines her expertise as a practitioner with her academic research interests of belonging, particularly a sense of belonging to academic and organizational settings.

Dr. Allen’s core work is in direct response to the widely reported global decline in belonging, particularly for students. Her research traces the further deterioration of belonging following COVID-19 and its strong associations with mental illness (both in adolescence and adulthood), well-being, and academic outcomes, demonstrating that belonging is an important problem to address. With the study of belonging core to Dr. Allen’s research priorities, her projects have built a conceptual and empirical understanding of what it means to belong.

Dr. Allen’s interest in belonging has led her to author and edit over 200 scholarly publications, including the award-winning Psychology of Belonging (Routledge) and Boosting School Belonging in Adolescents: Interventions for Teachers and Mental Health Professionals (Routledge). An open-access policy on school belonging (free to download) is available in her latest book, Building Better Schools with Evidence-based Policy: Adaptable Policy for Teachers and School Leaders.

Dr Allen’s mission is to signal and accentuate the importance of belonging in day-to-day life and to better understand the mechanics of how it can be enhanced across the lifespan, particularly in educational contexts. Her work is based on the need to belong as a powerful driver of motivation and a fundamental pillar of good physical and mental health. In a world of rising rates of loneliness and social isolation, a comprehensive understanding of belonging has never been more important.

Books by Kelly-Ann Allen Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Measuring School Belonging
More schools are measuring belonging. Interpretation of school belonging results should acknowledge individuality and needs.
Planting the Seeds of Belonging for Parents

This article explores the pivotal role of belonging in educational settings, with a focus on often overlooked stakeholders—parents.

This article explores the pivotal role of belonging in educational settings, with a focus on often overlooked stakeholders—parents.

Rejection and peer-review criticism are some of the challenges of belonging in academia
Maintaining Our Sense of Belonging in Writing and Research

Belonging researchers will tell you that belonging is a fundamental human need, but how do we maintain belonging in academia when rejection and criticism are fierce?

Belonging researchers will tell you that belonging is a fundamental human need, but how do we maintain belonging in academia when rejection and criticism are fierce?

What Does Food Have to Do With Belonging and Schools?

The relationship between food and belonging is complex, leading us to ask whether it is the rituals and traditions that surround food rather than the food itself that are important.

The relationship between food and belonging is complex, leading us to ask whether it is the rituals and traditions that surround food rather than the food itself that are important.

A Deep Dive Into the Benefits of School Belonging

Every educator knows that a sense of belonging is important, but the true extent of the benefits can be hard to capture. Here's a look at some of them.

Every educator knows that a sense of belonging is important, but the true extent of the benefits can be hard to capture. Here's a look at some of them.

The Science Behind Our Need to Belong

Two of the world's leading authorities on the topic clarify underlying assumptions and trends about belonging.

Two of the world's leading authorities on the topic clarify underlying assumptions and trends about belonging.

Do Schools Need a Policy on School Belonging?

Every school should have a school belonging policy. Focusing on these key areas could help them get started.

Every school should have a school belonging policy. Focusing on these key areas could help them get started.