Biography

Cleo Joffrion Allen, Ph.D., APR, earned her undergraduate degree from Southern University and master’s and doctoral degrees from LSU. She earned her Accredited in Public Relations (APR) certificate in 1999.

Allen is a former journalist, public relations professional and college educator:

· She worked as a newspaper reporter and copy editor for Capital City Press (The Advocate and now-defunct State-Times); was media liaison for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and press secretary for the Department of Social Services (now known as the Department of Children & Family Services) under then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco, responsible for planning and implementing successful PR campaigns.

· She has taught at Southern University, LSU, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Dillard University, retiring as associate professor, program coordinator, and lead of a $1 million, five-year Career Pathways Initiative grant from the United Negro College Fund with documented success in improving outcomes for Dillard students.

She continues to teach because she is committed to sharing a growth-mindset perspective and to preparing Manship students with the critical thinking and writing skills necessary for success.