Dr. Denise Wallen is a Senior Fellow at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at The University of New Mexico and is research faculty at the College of Education. Prior to joining the Center for Health Policy, Dr. Wallen served in a variety of capacities in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development including that of Director of Research Development. In these positions she was responsible for large and complex program development; training and outreach; and proposal development efforts. She produced numerous public television education documentaries, including an award-winning documentary on "Women in Science". She has co-authored numerous books on funding as well as the State of New Mexico funding directory and database. She is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), currently serving as International Neighborhood Chair, and National Council of University Research Administrators - European Association of Research Managers EARMA Fellowship Program Chair.

Prior to joining the University of New Mexico she worked for the State of New Mexico as an alternative energy planner; and as Associate Director, Development of Research and Human Services (DORAHS), a community based non-profit in Albuquerque, NM. She continues to work in the community by serving on the Board of Directors of ReadWest, Inc., an adult literacy program, as well as tutoring English as a Second Language.

She holds a Bachelor's in Political Science from City College of New York, a Masters of Public Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies from the University of New Mexico.