Allison Deegan, Ed.D., serves as WriteGirl’s Associate Director and has provided critical strategic and operational guidance since the organization’s inception in 2001. She participates in all aspects of WriteGirl’s leadership, programming and sustainability, and also serves on the WriteGirl Advisory Board.

Professionally, Allison is a fiscal and policy coordinator with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, where she worked on a variety of projects including the development of the Road to Success Academy, a successful project-based learning school for incarcerated youth. She is also an adjunct professor in both Master's and Doctoral programs. She has made numerous presentations around the country on topics related to after-school program success, college access, creative writing and working with youth. Dr. Deegan was selected as one of the 2013 26th Senate District SHeroes.

Allison holds a B.S. in Marketing from Syracuse University, an MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts, a Master’s in Public Policy from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, also from CSULB. She is a screenwriter and fiction writer and has remained close to her WriteGirl mentee, who now works in nuclear non-proliferation.

Dr. Deegan works closely with Executive Director, Keren Taylor, to ensure the effectiveness of WriteGirl programs and the continued strength of the organization. Dr. Deegan launched WriteGirl's College Access Program, which guides the college and scholarship application process for WriteGirl high school seniors, by hosting intensive college application workshops at the WriteGirl office and online, and providing each teen with individual guidance. Since 2002, the WriteGirl College Access Program has supported WriteGirl seniors to complete thousands of successful college applications.