Student Profile: Will Allen
Will Allen grew up interested in politics, but came to Alma as a music major. He was originally interested in public affairs because he thought it would allow him to better understand music copyright law.
“Though I’m still interested in the intersection of politics and music, once I started to take classes I realized I could do a lot more with public affairs,” the Unionville senior says.
Officially, Allen is completing a program of emphasis in social policy and has a music minor. He has a passion for public service and has interned with the Alma city manager.
Will Allen in Ecuador
“I have a responsibility to help other people and have an opportunity to be of service to people,” he says. “Everyone who wants to make a difference has to interact at some level with the government.”
In the summer of 2007 he received money through the P-Global program to work with a non-profit foundation in El Paso, Texas. The Foundation for the Education of Young Women was looking to open a school in Juarez Mexico for high-risk, low-income girls.
Allen worked with a variety of non-profit and government organizations to develop a plan for the school, which would focus on mathematics, science, technology, leadership and personal development.
“It was a really good way to build my skill set by learning to cold-call, network build and talk to high-level officials,” he says. “That summer was about understanding why I believed what I believed.”
He appreciates the independent nature of the curriculum and the relationships with professors, but Allen knew he wanted to attend Alma when he participated in a summer institute as a sophomore in high school.
“I visited campus so many times that at one point during my senior year of high school, an admissions representative asked me to lead families to Joe’s,” he says. “But I wanted to make sure about my decision, so I deferred until Thanksgiving so I could tell my family.”
He is involved in a variety of organizations, including the Center for Responsible Leadership, Alma Choir, Alpha Phi Omega, disability awareness, the diversity advisory council, student congress and Sigma Chi fraternity. He is also a student representative for the Board of Trustee’s Finance Committee.
