Rachel Dortin is currently an Assistant Professor of Writing at the University of Central Arkansas. She earned her PhD from Wayne State University, her MA from the University of Findlay, and her BA from Ohio Northern University.
Her research uses an ecofeminist framework to analyze the relationship between embodiment, difference, and community engagement to argue for methods of establishing stronger university-community partnerships. She is a passionate teacher who focuses on deconstructing boundaries in the classroom and giving her students more power over their learning and their evaluation and assessment.
When she isn’t writing, teaching, researching, or grading, she enjoys walks and cuddles with her pitbull-shepherd mix, Freyja, making kombucha and baking bread, and yoga. As a transplant in the South, she misses the cold Northern weather fiercely, but you can often catch her on her patio with a glass of wine and a good book or on a hike trying to make the most of this beautiful state.
Rachel is also an avid podcast listener, and has recently taken a blog to share her musings on what she’s learned, how it has impacted her life, and connections between the podcasts she enjoys, the outside world, and her own research and teaching. Check out her blog if you’re interested in reading along with what Rachel’s listening to.
Expertizes
Teaching
Rachel has experience teaching basic writing, first-year composition, writing across the disciplines, technical and professional communication, information design, tutor training and online teaching practicums, and community-engaged writing courses.
Writing
In addition to her academic writing experience, Rachel has worked as a freelance writer in the areas of financial advising and athlete management and acquisition. She also maintains her personal blog. She is available for freelance writing gigs on a case-by-case basis. Please see her contact information below if you are interested.
Research
Rachel has conducted qualitative and quantitative research using feminist and ecofeminist research methods and methodologies. She is well versed in a variety of research methods within the rhetoric and composition discipline.
Instructional Design and Assessment
Rachel has consulted on several instructional design projects, including the transition from traditional to emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2019 and designing a fully online 7-week online first-year writing course taken the summer before a student’s freshman year. She has worked to assess the learning outcomes of several writing programs and an honors program.
RECENT
Experience
Assistant Professor of Writing
University of Central Arkansas
2020-Present
In this role, Rachel teaches a 4-4 load in the Writing Program, which his housed in the Department of Communication. She teaches courses in the first-year writing sequence, Writing as Information Design, and Technical Writing,
Special Lecturer
Oakland University
2019-2020
In this role, Rachel taught a 4-3 load in the Rhetoric and Writing Department. Her course load was split between asynchronous online and hybrid courses in WRTG1050 and WRTG1060, College Writing I and II respectively.
Let’s make something together.
Rachel Dortin 