Current Position: Associate Professor, Anthropology
Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho
Dr. Kerensa Allison earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 1997; a Master of Science Degree in Biology from EWU in 2000, and a PhD in Anthropology from Washington State University in 2010.
In her own words: I am the oldest of three children who grew up in a rural apple-producing town on the Canadian border (population 1,700). My mother and father worked hard to make ends meet; welfare, frequent moves, and wage labor were all part of my adolescence. Graduating from high school in 1993, I enrolled at Eastern Washington University the next fall, where I found myself under prepared for the college experience. Fortunately Eastern’s TRIO Student Support Services provided the foundation to complete my biology degree, and acceptance into the TRIO Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program changed the course of my life. TRIO McNair at EWU is not solely about preparing students for the GRE or helping them write their statement of purpose for graduate school. McNair helped me break down my personal barriers of self-doubt, which haunts all first-generation and low-income students. McNair provided the guidance in application, personal support during my academic journey, and celebration when I finished both my Master’s in Biology (EWU) and Doctorate in Anthropology (WSU).
I recently accepted a tenure-track position working for Lewis-Clark State College where 80% of the student body qualifies for TRIO services. I will continue the TRIO legacy to help guide, support and inspire the next generation of TRIO students.
