Allyson is an Academic Program Manager-National Partnerships for Microsoft Corporation's US Partners in Learning (PiL) program. Partners in Learning builds public / private partnerships throughout the world to help achieve three central goals: digital literacy for all, stronger and more competitive workforce, and improved quality of life. Allyson manages Microsoft's partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service focused on START (Service & Technology Academic Resource Team) project, the partnership with Smithsonian Institution focused on exploring problem-solving processes, and represents Microsoft on the Partners for 21st Century Skills board. She also works on scale, workforce development, and education policy issues.
Allyson received her BA in English from the University of Michigan, MA in Adult Learning from Michigan State University, and Ed M in Technology in Education from Harvard University.
Before coming to Microsoft, she held a variety of positions in the school-to-work and workforce development field. She coordinated Michigan State University's Young Spartan Program -- the university outreach to urban elementary schools. At the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce she managed the workforce development department and region's technology association. In this role she secured local, state, and national grants to strengthen workforce, technology, and school-to-work programs. As a senior program officer at the US Chamber of Commerce Center for Workforce Preparation, she oversaw the Workforce Innovation Networks (WINS) designed to strengthen public / private partnerships on behalf of business owners and workers.