Rachael is currently pursuing a PhD in Writing & Rhetoric at George Mason University, where she researches connections between writing, risk, and ethics. Her primary research interests involve public health and medical concerns, especially opioid regulation. She also studies the rhetoric of proposal writing instruction, internet trolling, and birthday cake.

Rachael has an MFA in Creative Writing and a graduate certificate in Professional Writing & Rhetoric. She is the founding President of the GMU student chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (GMU STC). An active member of GMU STC, she has coordinated lectures by visiting scholars, delivered writing workshops, and helped plan and reviewed an all-day unconference on technical communication, with nonprofit TC Camp.