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Rachael Rost-Allen

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Bio

Rachael Rost-Allen, Ed.D., is the sustainability education and engagement coordinator at Johnson County Community College in Kansas, where she works with faculty, staff and students to integrate sustainability into coursework and campus initiatives. Previously, Rachael was the education program manager at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center in Kansas, where she worked for 10 years. In this time, Rachael taught over 2,500 sustainability education classes to more than 125,000 people. In her spare time, Rachael can be found listening to audiobooks, traveling and enjoying the company of her husband, son, two dogs and cat.

Experience and Interests

Teaching

  • Associate Lecturer, UW-Stevens Point (2024-present)
  • Adjunct Instructor, General Education, Southern New Hampshire University (2024-present)

Research Interests

  • Teacher professional learning
  • Sustainability education
  • Curriculum development
  • Adult learning
  • Youth programming
  • Informal education
  • Conservation and wildlife education
  • Constructivism
  • Citizen science

Presentations and Publications

Publications

  • Rost-Allen, R. (2024). Integration of sustainability education into teacher professional learning: A case study. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point]. Minds@UW.http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/85639

Involvement

Campus

  • Invited Guest Speaker for EDSU 907, 919, and 920 (2023-2024)
  • Presenter for NAAEE Conference on doctoral research (2022)
  • Co-Presenter NSTA Conference with Erin Redman and Liz Potter-Nelson (2021)

Community

  • Arts Advisory Council Board Member, JCCC (April 2024-present)
  • DEAI Co-Chair, Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center (2021-2023)
  • Kansas Geographic Alliance Member (2018-present)

Professional Memberships

  • AASHE Change Leadership Program (2024)
  • Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leader, Class 8 (2019-2021)
  • 30 Under 30 Environmental Educator, NAAEE (2018)
  • AZA Hero with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2018)
  • Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions (2017)

Fun Facts

Last book you read?

The Kingdom of Lies series by Stacia Stark

Best advice you ever received?

One of the final things my dad told me before he passed away was that he wished he would have traveled more. This sparked my quest to travel in his honor. I have since visited all seven continents and carried him with me in my heart for every trip!

Favorite Quote?

“Sustainability is another word for justice, as what is just is sustainable and what is unjust is not.” –Matthew Fox

One thing about your school that you are most proud of?

I am proud to attend a school that values sustainability and intentionally created a doctoral program for the working professional.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I love watching students connect to sustainability, find their passion in the field and embrace new mindsets. It’s the ultimate reward and why I am in the sustainability education field!

A piece of advice for students in your school?

For students in the Ed.D. program, take the journey day-by-day. Celebrate the small wins, choose a research topic you’re passionate about, and intentionally connect to your peers in the program. It will all be worth it in the end!

Rachael Rost-Allen
Associate Lecturer - School of Education

Education

Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability
UW-Stevens Point, 2023

Graduate Certificate in Equity and Inclusion in Education
UW-Stevens Point, 2023

M.A. in Biology
Miami University of Ohio, 2014

B.A. in Psychology
University of Kansas, 2011