In Memoriam: Marilou Allen, 1933-2017

Marilou Allen, the founder and the director of the Women’s Center at Haverford College for 33 years, died on December 9. She was 84 years old.

Kim Benston, president of Haverford College, stated that Allen “was keeper of the Haverfordian flame, embodiment of the community’s highest form of consciousness and guardian of our best conscience. But she was also wicked funny and didn’t take no mess. Altogether, she was one of the most beautiful human beings that I’ve ever had the privilege to know.”

Allen joined the staff at Haverford College in 1981 as director of the community outreach office. The initial appointment was for 18 months. But she remained head of the office until her retirement in 2015. In 1982, she was asked to establish the Women’s Center and directed that organization until retirement as well. The center was created to support women students who enrolled at what had been an all-male institution

Allen held a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She also held a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Social Work at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.