Allison is a skilled researcher and project leader, with broad expertise in quality of life and demographic trends, secondary data sources and analysis, and communicating research results. She joined Wilder in 2012.
Allison is project director of Minnesota Compass, a longstanding community indicators project that tracks trends and measures progress on issues that impact our shared quality of life. She has broad expertise across a variety of topics, but particular interest in population change, income and poverty, economic and workforce development, and immigration. She enjoys public speaking and frequently presents on behalf of the Compass project, using data to tell stories that are understandable, interesting, and relevant for nonprofit, philanthropic, business, and general audiences. She also regularly contributes to the Minnesota Compass blog, highlighting issues and trends affecting people and communities across Minnesota.
Allison earned her bachelor’s degree from Luther College and her master’s degree from Michigan State University, and she completed her doctoral coursework in sociology at the University of New Hampshire.
Allison serves on the steering committee for the Community Indicators Consortium-International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies and the data committee of Minnesotans for the American Community Survey.
Allison lives with her family in Saint Paul’s Como Park neighborhood. Her rescue pets make frequent appearances on video meetings. Outside of work, Allison enjoys reading, watching women’s basketball, walking the neighborhood, and lifting heavy things at the gym.
Allison is also a regular contributor to the Minnesota Compass blog:
Which neighborhoods are at high risk for COVID-19?
Manufacturing in Minnesota: Four things to know
Minnesota is growing. How are we growing and by how much?
It’s been a decade since the Great Recession ended. How has Minnesota recovered?
Minnesota’s students: 4 noteworthy trends
Immigration in Minnesota: A changing story
A new look at civic engagement: 4 take-aways
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