When Kayla Allen first stepped onto the Friends University campus, she knew she was exactly where she needed to be. "It just instantly felt like home to me," Allen said. "Being so far away from my actual home, it was really important to find a university where I felt safe and comfortable and supported, and Friends gave me just that."

Long before she joined the athletics staff, Allen made her mark as a standout student-athlete. Her journey through track & field, especially in the Race Walk, taught her lessons in discipline, dedication, and leadership—qualities that now define her role as Assistant Athletic Director of Operations.

Finding Her Place at Friends

Allen's decision to join Friends University was rooted in the people she met and the culture she experienced. "The team that I was on was phenomenal. The coach was very supportive, and that was a huge draw for me," she said.

As a member of the track & field program, Allen discovered not only a team but a family. The support she felt from teammates and coaches helped her excel both on and off the track. That environment of encouragement and growth would eventually inspire her to stay in athletics long after her final race.

The Road to All-America

The Race Walk became more than an event for Allen—it was a calling. "Racewalk was something I had dedicated my life to for several years throughout high school and throughout college," she said. "It was everything that I did, thought about, it all revolved around competing."

Her commitment paid off when she earned NAIA All-America honors, a testament to years of hard work and perseverance. "I truly made it my life," Allen said. "I wanted so badly to be the best that I could be in that sport, and so I truly just did it."

Even when setbacks came, Allen stayed focused. "There were moments of challenges and difficulties where I didn't really perform how I wanted to, and that's just natural," she said. "But I was just extremely dedicated to the sport and becoming a better athlete overall."

Discovering a Path in Athletic Administration

While Allen thrived as an athlete, she also began to envision a future behind the scenes in athletics. "I have always had an interest in athletic administration," she said. "In my high school, my athletic director was someone I really looked up to."

That curiosity led her to seek out mentors and hands-on experience. "I actually met with Dr. Rob Ramseyer (Friends Athletic Director) my junior year of college just to kind of pick his brain a little bit about what goes into being an administrator," Allen said. "I shadowed my high school athletic director that summer and really decided that was what I wanted to do."

Her time as a graduate assistant for Scott Moshier sealed her career choice. "It just validated that this was the environment in which I wanted to surround myself with every day," she said.

Serving Coaches and Athletes

Now, as Assistant Athletic Director of Operations, Allen finds fulfillment in making game days run smoothly for everyone involved. "I love that on game day the only thing [our coaches] have to worry about is coaching," she said. "I love being able to take care of them and eliminate an added level of stress so that they can just focus on being the best coach and mentor for their kids."

She thrives on the details that keep athletics moving forward. "There's just so many small behind-the-scenes things that no one ever thinks about that are just so fun to be a part of," Allen said. "Making such a big difference to these athletes without even realizing it is just very rewarding."

Advice for the Next Generation

Allen's journey from student-athlete to athletics administrator has taught her the value of initiative and connection. Her message to young women hoping to follow a similar path is clear: "Be willing to put yourself out there. Be willing to try any and everything even if you think it's maybe not the exact route you want to go."

She encourages others to embrace every opportunity to learn. "By getting your foot in the door it can open so many more opportunities for you," she said. "Meet people, introduce yourself, be friendly—it goes a long way. You never know who you're going to meet and what those connections could lead to in the future."

For Allen, Friends University remains a place where athletes can grow into leaders—just as she did.