Gayle Allen

Gayle Allen, Ed.D., is currently a Sloan Fellow in MIT’s Innovation and Global Leadership program and an adjunct professor at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Prior to coming to MIT this year, Gayle spent over 15 years in K-12 schools as a teacher and administrator.  Most recently, she served as Associate Head at Trinity School in New York City and, prior to that, as Associate Head and founder and director of the Adult Learning Institute at Kent Place School.

Gayle began her career as a high school chemistry and physics teacher, coach, and dorm parent at The Madeira School and The Lawrenceville School before serving as a chemistry teacher, Dean of Faculty, and co-founder and director of The McCord Grauer Center for Excellence in Teaching at Purnell School.  Gayle earned her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she focused her research on adult education, transformative learning and emerging technologies. 

She is an active presenter and consultant in the areas of strategic planning, adult and student learning, and leadership development.