A climate scientist and 2023 Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Michael J. Allen joined the TU Department of Geography and Environmental Planning in 2022 following a 8 years in southeast Virginia where he served as Geography Program Director at Old Dominion University (2019 – 2021).
A Pittsburgh native, Michael earned his B.S. in Earth Science- Meteorology from California University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest). Completing both M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography at Kent State University, his research explores the intersection of weather and climate on human health particularly as it related to extreme temperatures, climate variability and change. He has a number of peer-reviewed publications in journals including Physical Geography, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, and the International Journal of Climatology. His research on seasonal climate change has also been highlighted by National Geographic. He has also appeared in various media outlets including the Baltimore Banner, WBAL, TIME Magazine, and Bloomberg.
Dr. Allen places a high value on Geographic education by emphasizing interconnections and geo-literacy. Each summer, he coordinates the Chesapeake Bay Climate Institute and previously served as the Climate and Health Field Editor of the International Journal of Biometeorology, the Chairperson of Wetlands Watch, and co-coordinator of the Virginia Geographic Alliance. An avid cyclist – cycling more than 95% of all roads in the City of Baltimore, beekeeper, and curious, global citizen, he has traveled to all 50 U.S. states, the entire Balkan Peninsula, and more than 3 dozen countries including Australia, China, Cuba, Ireland, Japan, Moldova, Peru, and South Africa. Learn more about Towson Geography and the Climate, Weather and Society minor!
Education
- Ph.D. Geography, Kent State University (2014)
- M.A. Geography, Kent State University (2010)
- B.S. Earth Science-Meteorology, California University of Pennsylvania (2008)
Research Interests: Bioclimatology – Applied Climatology – Climate Change & Variability – Geographic Education
ORCID: 0000-0002-8897-3901
Affiliations