James Allen is a Ph.D. candidate in public policy & economics at the University of Michigan with interests in development economics in Sub-Saharan Africa relating to education, health, and natural disasters. He served in the Peace Corps in Mali (2010-2012) while earning an M.S. degree in agricultural, food & resource economics from Michigan State University (2012). Prior to starting his Ph.D., Allen worked as a research director at the University of Kentucky, where he managed large grants and supervised research staff and graduate assistants. He has experience working in several developing countries, including Burundi, Mali, Mozambique, the Philippines and Rwanda.