Dr. Ryan Allen is an Associate Professor of English and Writing and the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages at Briar Cliff University. Dr. Allen also serves as a nonfiction and Siouxland editor for The Briar Cliff Review. He received his BA in English Literature from Western Kentucky University and his MA and PhD in Creative Writing from The University of South Dakota. Dr. Allen’s work has appeared in a variety of magazines, alt-weekly’s, and academic journals, like Under the Sun, The Louisville Review, South Dakota Review, 605 Magazine, LEO Magazine, and A Prairie Journal, to name a few. Dr. Allen is also co-owner of Lumin, LLC, which promotes the integration of the mind, body, and spirit through the practice of yoga and mindfulness with special populations. As a yoga teacher, Dr. Allen primarily teaches young children and those suffering from traumatic stress in addition to the mentoring and professional development work he’s engaged in with various schools, businesses and organizations. He’s a certified trauma practitioner through the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, a SGLN (Starr Global Learning Network) trainer, ERYT200, a registered children’s yoga teacher (RCYT95) and holds specialized certifications in Chair and Gentle Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Mindful Resilency for Trauma Recovery. He lives in Sioux City, Iowa with his wife, three kids, and dog.