Allene Riley Kussin

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Board President

Allene’s background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature, and Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology.  She did post-graduate work in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and has been a life-long student of culture, sociological and historical issues.  Allene was licensed as a Professional Counselor, and maintained professional membership in the American Counseling Association, the Association for Creativity in Counseling, and the Association for Specialists in Group Work throughout her teaching and therapy career.

Allene held a position as Associate Faculty at Eastern University, Radnor, PA, in their Counseling Psychology Department for nine years before moving to Concord in 2007.  She also maintained a private therapy practice for nearly 20 years.  While retired from private practice, Allene has founded ARK-Ports of Change, a work designed for those in major life transition.  This involves several venues such as speaking at community events and holding retreats and workshops on various topics around relationships and life issues, such as trauma, bereavement and cultural complexities.  She is an illustration artist and has a studio in West Concord where she explores other media as well. 

Throughout Allene’s personal and professional life, she has been actively engaged in volunteering with non-profit organizations.  Those experiences included, among others, serving on her children’s school board, as well as an international non-profit board that aids single mothers with young children, and national parks efforts. Currently she Chairs the Board of Directors of The Umbrella Community Arts Center, serves on the Advisory Council for NEADS, an organization that trains service dogs for the deaf and disabled, and works with her church in various roles.  Current, local volunteer involvements also include:

  • working with the Concord Cultural District Committee
  • participating with the Chamber of Commerce ‘Art Walk’ in Concord
  • supporting environmental conservancy efforts through financial and physical participation                            

Allene loves to read, garden, sketch, kayak.