David Allan is the Editorial Director of Features (CNN Travel, CNN Style, Space + Science, Wellness) and the former Editorial Director of CNN Health and Wellness. He writes a column called The Wisdom Project (on applying to one’s life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture), and a parenting advice column called Go Ask Your Dad. You can follow David at @davidgallan and can subscribe to The Wisdom Project here.

Prior to joining CNN, David was the Managing Editor for the features sections (BBC Travel, Culture, Future, Capital, Autos) for BBC.com and a features and news editor at The New York Times, overseeing and contributing to sections that ranged from Travel (where he wrote a column), National, Styles and the magazine.

He wrote two travel guides to Ireland and Scotland for Frommer’s, created a show on MTV, is a former White House intern and middle school teacher with Teach For America. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, he holds degrees in Journalism and Philosophy. His TEDx Talk is titled “Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?”