James Allen is an Associate Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) with interests in development economics in Sub-Saharan Africa relating to education and health. He has a PhD in Public Policy & Economics from the University of Michigan (2023) and served in the Peace Corps in Mali (2010-2012) while earning an MS degree in Agricultural, Food & Resource Economics from Michigan State University (2012). Prior to starting his PhD, James worked as a Research Director at the University of Kentucky where he studied local food systems and community and economic development. He has experience working in several developing countries, including Burundi, Mali, Mozambique, the Philippines and Rwanda.