Author Profile

Reagan Allen

Reagan Allen joined the Martin Center in June 2025 as the state reporter, covering developments in higher-education policy and governance across North Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in media and journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she developed a strong interest in education reform, public policy, and investigative journalism. Her work has appeared in The Hill WCHL and the Daily Tar Heel. She enjoys pickleball, reading, trivia, and spending time outdoors.

Articles by Reagan Allen






Job Training and the Liberal Arts

Martin Center: How did this working group and report come to exist? Toby King: Last year, Peter Hans, UNC System president, approached the faculty assembly and said, “I feel that…


Happiness Isn’t Stapled to a Diploma

For decades, college was seen as the ultimate standard of success: the pathway to a good job, financial stability, and, for most, happiness. However, many people (including myself) have begun…


The College Rat Race

Across the nation, public universities are under orders to move students across the graduation stage more quickly, but at what cost to the degree itself? Yes, graduation-rate targets are important…




The Business of Selling Dreams

The point of a college degree is to gain essential skills and knowledge that support your career. In other words, it is to get a job in a field you’re…