As a lecturer in Shenandoah University’s English department, Rachael Hammond teaches various writing and literature courses. She especially delights in opportunities to explore literary subjects from interdisciplinary perspectives. Both her undergraduate and her graduate work focused on literature, though her Master of Arts also featured a creative writing (fiction) concentration. Rachael’s academic experiences include business studies, as well, such as UVa’s McIntire Business Institute and WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (Class XI Fellow). Despite some very enjoyable forays in non-profit conference planning and academic administration, Rachael’s heart remains in the classroom. She is certain that strong coffee,  black cats, and blues music—and, yes, goofy jokes—are among life’s chief joys, and she always strives to inspire confidence, compassion, and creativity in her students.