Allison Baine was a Naval Musician playing the French Horn when she realized her true passion.

Baine said that she always knew she was going to be a teacher. “I just assumed I would be a music teacher. While I was in the Navy, I realized that music was really my hobby, and literature was my passion.”

In fact, her passion for teaching is in her blood. “I come from a family of teachers back three generations, so teaching is just a part of who I am.”

“One of the central components of my teaching philosophy is that I want my students to see the connection between what they are learning and how it will help them in the future,” she said. “We’re still working on it, but if students don’t see why what we’re doing is relevant, they won’t care.  I have to find a way to make it relevant.”

Baine said that she enjoys the idea of teaching at Radford.

“I am former military, and my husband is in the Navy.  I feel that my connection and understanding of military life can help the students here, and I know that I feel more welcome because of that military connection.”

Baine has a bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland University College and a second bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. She also has a master’s degree from American Public University and another master’s degree from Western Washington University.

Aside from music and literature, Baine enjoys hiking, biking, and Paddle Board Yoga. Baine also teaches fitness classes at the Joint Base Gym.

While Baine said that she still plays as often as possible, her favorite overall thing to do is travel.  “I love visiting other countries and seeing new places.  I’m looking forward to traveling east now that I live in Hawaii.”