Student PIRGs Staff
Nicole Allen is the Student PIRGs Textbook Advocate and director of the Make Textbooks Affordable project. Since 2007, she has worked with students, faculty and decision-makers across the country to address the rapidly rising cost of college textbooks through grassroots organizing, public education and advocacy.
Nationally recognized as a leading issue expert, Ms. Allen's research and opinions have been cited in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
A life-long activist, Ms. Allen began her career in higher education advocacy as a student at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, where she graduated in 2006 with a degree in Philosophy.
Get Involved!

Work on important issues, learn valuable skills, get hands-on experience, and make a difference.
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CALPIRG students asking Governor Jerry Brown what his plan is to make higher education more affordable. -
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We collect petition signatures - lots of them! -
CALPIRG’s Energy Service Corps: UCSD students working to engage students and the community about living sustainably at home via energy efficiency. Hello Wall-E. -
Hunger and Homelessness intern Roua Aboukhadijeh collecting interview footage on campus for a short film on poverty. -
Six media outlets covered a stop on the Textbooks Rebellion tour to promote affordable alternatives to outrageously expensive textbooks. -
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Vote Yes for OSPIRG!
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Power Shift West 2009 organizers with State Representative Jefferson Smith. -
Students campaign for High Speed Rail. -
Fast Trains ARE Cool. -
Students volunteer at a local garden for the National Hunger Cleanup. -
University of Oregon students and staff remind their peers to turn in their ballots on election day.
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Students at Southern Oregon University gather petitions to reduce plastic bag usage in the city of Ashland. -
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Volunteers wear the textbook mascot costumes to educate students about affordable textbook alternatives. -
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Students posing with the textbook Rebellion books, We Want Cheaper TEXTBOOKS!! -
UCSD CALPIRG’s Protect Our Oceans Campaign. We want to stop the continued plastic pollution of our oceans. Join us! -
UCSD students posing with Charlie the CFL after pledging to save energy in 1 to 4 ways at home. -
Textbook Rebel and Mr. $200 drew attention to outrageous textbook prices. -
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Students educate others about different ways to reduce energy. -
The Energy Efficiency campaign tabling to give away free CFLs and educate others about simple ways to reduce energy use. -
Student leaders educate the campus about income inequality during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. -
MaryPIRG students collect canned food for the Canpaign at UMD.
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