Employee Directory

Rachel Bates Assistant Professor
Writing Program

Rachel Bates holds a PhD in English from Old Dominion University, an M.A. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in creative writing from Dartmouth College, and a B.A. in History and English from East Tennessee State University. Rachel's creative writing is featured in several journals such as Appalachian Review, West Texas Literary Review, and Broad River Review, and Finishing Line Press published her debut chapbook, Dear River, in 2020. Her research focuses on the Anthropocene via Contemporary Appalachian literature and culture. She approaches these studies using ecofeminism, place studies, and affect theory methodologies. Additionally, she has a strong research interest in writing pedagogy with a focus on first-year composition studies and K-16 writing instruction.