Interim Dean and Professor of Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management, School of Natural Resources and Environment
David Allan received a Bachelor of Science degree (with honors) in Zoology from the University of British Columbia in 1966, and Master of Science and Doctoral degrees in Zoology from the University of Michigan in 1967 and 1971, respectively. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Chicago before joining the Department of Zoology at the University of Maryland, College Park, where from 1972 to 1990, he served as Professor and Director of Graduate Studies. In 1990, Professor Allan joined the School of Natural Resources (later to be renamed School of Natural Resources and Environment), where he was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in 2007 and Acting Dean in 2008. In 2010 he returned to the role of professor.
Professor Allan’s teaching interests are in the ecology of fresh waters, including their conservation, management, and restoration. He is the author of two widely-used text books: Stream Ecology (2007, with M.M Castillo) and Streams: Their Ecology & Life (2001, with C.E. Cushing). Professor Allan’s current research investigates the influence of human activities on the Great Lakes, the factors affecting success of stream restoration, and the ecology of freshwater communities. In addition to both local and regional work centered in the Midwest, his research has taken place at sites in the Rocky Mountains, Southeast Alaska, Sweden, Israel, and Venezuela.
Professor Allan’s conservation activities include working closely with local watershed councils, and he has served on the boards of American Rivers and the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. He has frequently served as a consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies on topics related to aquatic ecosystem health.
Professor Allan is active professionally on many fronts and has held office in several professional societies, including the Society for Freshwater Science, the Society for Conservation Biology, and the Ecological Society of America. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the 2009 recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Society for Freshwater Science, and 2010 recipient of the University of Michigan’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award.
