Combining athletics and academics is proven to encourage student success — a concept Dr. Ishonté Allar embodies in her work every day.
Sports are an integral part of Dr. Allar’s identity and serve as the foundation for her teaching methods and principles in her role as assistant professor at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC).
A multidisciplined athlete, Dr. Allar participated in volleyball, basketball, and track and field during her school years. She declined offers to play basketball and run track at the collegiate level due to burnout and ultimately shifted her focus to her education. Eventually, she walked on to her school’s track and field team and competed in the 400-meter hurdles.
As with many athletes, her skills and knowledge eventually led to coaching roles, where she worked with middle school girls and high school-aged coed teams.
I like working with working professionals, people who have gone back to school after staying home with their kids for a while, that kind of thing.
That experience translates well to her career today, where she sees several parallels between managing a classroom and coaching.
“In the classroom, you have to have good classroom management, but you also have to be able to manage your team,” she explains. “I feel like there's a lot of similarities with them, but I feel like coaching can build a different relationship. You still have to keep them reigned in.”
Dr. Allar’s current involvement in sports is closer to home these days. She holds several certifications in personal training and nutrition coaching, and is even working on her weightlifting certification, all of which not only fall in step with her background but align with her objectives to help her children with their own physical fitness journeys.
Ample Education
Dr. Allar holds five higher education degrees, all from West Virginia University. She earned her first Bachelor of Science in Physical Education Teacher Education, with Spanish as a double major. Her Master of Arts paths followed suit, earning degrees in public health and secondary education with an emphasis on Spanish.
While she culminated her schooling with a Doctor of Philosophy in Coaching and Teaching Studies distinction, that additional interest in Spanish took Dr. Allar across the world, where she traveled to Spain and Mexico. She claims it was her Spanish studies that kick-started her teaching career, as it gave her that initial access to teaching roles after she tacked it onto her degree accomplishments.
“When I started teaching, that's actually what got my foot in the door, was the Spanish,” she recalls.
Pursuing that much education gives Dr. Allar an advanced understanding of the student experience. She prioritizes well-rounded exposure for her students who are entering the education sector. A past that included teaching summer camps aided this background of experience and the adjacent perspective.
“I have a big interest in holistic education,” she says. “I try to incorporate that with my college students, making sure they know self-care is important, and understand that life happens. I just ask them to communicate with me.”
That interest also led her into co-authoring two textbooks: “How Does Educator Look On Me?” and “Life After College: Presenting Yourself to the Workforce.” Each publication combines Dr. Allar’s knowledge of teaching with principles and a framework that guide future educators.
“They help bridge theory and practice in a way that supports new educators from coursework into their first years in the classroom,” she explains. “I’m proud of creating resources that meet real student needs, whether that’s through course design, instructional feedback, or publishing work that helps educational professionals be more effective in their craft.”
Teaching at UAGC
Like many educators, Dr. Allar knew her destiny rested in teaching from a young age. Having spent her whole life in West Virginia and building her experience through her community, her work history spreads across formal and informal settings.
It started when she assisted her peers with homework. At 14 years old, she taught children at a summer camp, even obtaining a special permit to work at that time. As an adult, she ran before and after-school programs through a local church, catering to children and families with low incomes.
Despite this community involvement, Dr. Allar knew working in a traditional college classroom did not match her preferred style, and in 2021, she joined the UAGC faculty.
“I like working with working professionals, people who have gone back to school after staying home with their kids for a while, that kind of thing,” she explains.
Always involved, her current extracurriculars include serving on faculty council as a representative for her department. Dr. Allar is also a member of the professional development committee at UAGC and co-chairs a new bylaws subcommittee.
While Dr. Allar is able to spend her time working and moving to her liking — she’s currently on a mission to visit all 50 states with her family — the passion for working with other hardworking professionals remains.
Above all else, Dr. Allar remains committed to encouraging a productive and proactive environment for her students.
“My favorite part is getting to work with people who actually care,” she explains. “They have a growth mindset and want to continuously grow.”