Our Team
David Allen, Ph.D
Dr. Allen is a partner with Community Research Services, providing a wide range of experience and expertise with various computer mapping systems and demographic/economic analysis. Prior to the establishment of Community Research Services, Dr. Allen was a partner with Community Research Group, preparing market feasibility studies and housing needs assessments. Prior to joining Community Research on a full-time basis, Dr. Allen was a visiting lecturer in the Department of Geography and Geology at Eastern Michigan University, where he taught classes in World Regions, Economic Geography, Computer Mapping, and other topics.
His area of expertise includes quantitative geographical analysis, geographic information systems and computer mapping technologies. His past research has concentrated on political geographical issues utilizing Census and other national and international demographic data sources. Topics of his research include the effects of economic change on partisan support in Quebec, the impact of redistricting plans for congressional districts in Louisiana, and the geography of support for far-right politicians in the South.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Michigan University, and concentrated his studies in Political Science and History. He earned his Masters degree from EMU as well, in the Geography department. His Ph.D. in Geography is from the University of Washington. His doctoral dissertation investigated the interplay between economic change and nationalism in Quebec elections since 1976. He has presented the results of his research in many academic forums, including the Association of American Geographers in 1995 and 2000.
Dr. Allen's current research involves the geography of affordable housing and its ties to GIS methodologies. He has presented his work to the Michigan Affordable Housing Conference, the Wisconsin Affordable Housing Conference, the Michigan Association of Affordable Housing Professionals and the National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts.