DCAC Appoints Lori Allen as President and CEO
The Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is proud to announce the appointment of Lori Allen as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 16. Allen brings more than two decades of leadership experience in child advocacy, sexual assault response, and trauma-informed care to one of the nation’s leading children’s advocacy centers.
Allen most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (GCCAC) in Florida, where she led the organization for more than a decade. Under her leadership, GCCAC grew from an 11-person team with a $1 million budget into a comprehensive, statewide service provider employing more than 115 professionals and operating with a nearly $12 million annual budget.
In 2015, Allen spearheaded the expansion of GCCAC’s mission to become a dual-designated Rape Crisis Center, operating as the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program. This strategic move significantly increased access to trauma-informed services for survivors across the Florida Panhandle and strengthened community-wide response systems.
“Lori’s track record of strategic growth and unwavering commitment to children and families makes her the ideal leader for DCAC’s next chapter,” said Colbie Campbell, Chair of the DCAC Board of Trustees. “Her vision and expertise will help us expand our impact and continue delivering the highest level of care to the children we serve.”
A nationally respected leader, Allen is known for her data-driven approach and focus on multidisciplinary collaboration. She has held numerous statewide leadership roles, including service on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers. She recently served as Chair of the Circuit 14 Community Alliance and the Circuit 14 Human Trafficking Task Force and has contributed at the national level as an accreditation site reviewer for the National Children’s Alliance.
“I am profoundly honored to join the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and this remarkable community,” said Allen. “DCAC’s excellence is reflected in the hope, healing, and safety it offers to children and families every day. I look forward to working alongside passionate staff, partners, and supporters to ensure every child is seen and given the chance to heal.”
Beyond her professional work, Allen is deeply committed to philanthropy and mentorship. She is a founding member of Impact 100 Gulf Coast, which achieved a record-setting inaugural year, and has mentored students with Take Stock in Children for more than a decade. She previously lived in Frisco and has a strong affinity for Dallas and for the state.
Allen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Public Health, with specialization in epidemiology and biostatistics, and is a certified Child Welfare Trainer. She and her husband, Brandon, are longtime residents of Bay County, Florida, and she has two daughters.
Her appointment comes as DCAC continues to advance its mission to improve the lives of abused children in Dallas County and strengthen community response to child abuse.