Go easy on yourself and have an open mind…Whether you’re an undergraduate just starting, a transfer, or a graduate student, you are NOT expected to have all the answers. Nothing is written in stone, and you can always shift and change….I ended up exactly where I needed to be, and you will, too.
Rachel McShane, Ph.D. Graduate Assistant Writer
- Alum
- Graduate Assistant
- Student
For as long as she can remember, Rachel has loved words. Her mother recognized this fascination for the first time when she found Rachel, as a toddler, sitting on the floor surrounded by a pile of books, methodically turning pages as if she were already reading to herself. As she grew, Rachel fostered her love of words through her education, and that passion continues in her career. She received her bachelor's degree in English with a minor in literature and a minor in writing. She then made her way to Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she received both a master's in English and a graduate certificate in Adolescent and Young Adult Literature. She then continued her studies at A&M-Commerce, receiving a Ph.D in English with a focus in Rhetoric and Composition.
Rachel taught college-level writing and literature courses for several years, both at A&M-Commerce and as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. She has also worked on several writing and editing projects, including the current edition of “Writing Inquiry,” A&M-Commerce's first-year writing curriculum. Currently, in the Office of Marketing and Communications, Rachel serves as a writer, utilizing her passion for words to represent A&M-Commerce. In her free time, Rachel loves to spend time with her husband and their two dogs, play music, garden, and (you guessed it) read and write.
A Conversation with Rachel
How did you land at A&M-Commerce?
When I was an undergraduate at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, I was a teaching assistant to two English professors, Dr. Danny Alexander and Dr. Amy Alexander. They always supported and encouraged me and told me I should consider attending grad school after I completed my bachelor's. They had both graduated from A&M-Commerce (back when it was East Texas State University) and suggested I apply. I didn't know anything about graduate school, and no one in my family had ever gone, so the Alexanders became my mentors and guides. They helped me with the application process, wrote my letter of recommendation, and when I got in, they even helped me pick what classes I should take for my first semester! I'm so grateful I ended up here, because not only have I gotten a great education, but it's also where I met my husband (who is an English Ph.D. candidate here, too).
Tell us about a project you are working on or have completed.
I am currently working on my dissertation, which is titled “Miss Monstress: The Trial of Womanhood and Rhetorical Framing of Texas Women on Trial for Murder.” Basically, I'm first looking at the societal expectations of women in Texas. Then, I'm studying three different cases of women who stood trial for murder and were found guilty, analyzing how the media and prosecution rhetorically used those social expectations against them to frame them all as “bad women.” It's REALLY fascinating, and when I start talking about it, I can't stop!
What advice would you give an incoming student?
Go easy on yourself and have an open mind. A lot of times, college students can feel pressure to have everything figured out, with that five-year plan locked and loaded and ready to go. In reality, people and interests and plans can change…and that's normal and okay! Whether you're an undergraduate just starting, a transfer, or a graduate student, you are NOT expected to have all the answers. Nothing is written in stone, and you can always shift or change or be flexible. I changed my major in undergrad, and then changed my focus in my Ph.D. studies, and it all worked out great! I ended up exactly where I needed to be, and you will, too.
- Ph.D., English, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2024
- M.A., English, Graduate Certificate in Children's and Young Adult Literature, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2019
- B.A., English, Minor in Literature, Minor in Writing, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, 2017
- Feminist Rhetoric
- Rhetoric in Crime
- Young Adult/Children's Literature
- Native American Literature
- Creative Writing
The Trial of Womanhood
What happens when women go on trial for murder?
When a woman is on trial for murder, the media and prosecution often focus less on the evidence and more on the woman and her identity; the ways she meets (or doesn't meet) societal expectations is often used against her.
- McShane, Rachel. “Literacy, Discourse, Sponsorship.” Writing Inquiry, 3rd ed., edited by Gavin Johnson, Ashanka Kumari, Brian McShane, Rachel McShane, and Emily Littlejohn, Top Hat ed., 2023.
- McShane, Rachel. “Code-Switching, Code-Meshing, and Tensions in Literacies: A Brief Introduction to Unit 3.” Writing Inquiry, 3rd ed., edited by Gavin Johnson, Ashanka Kumari, Brian McShane, Rachel McShane, and Emily Littlejohn, Top Hat ed., 2023.
- McShane, Rachel. “Research: Primary, Secondary, and Evaluating Sources, Oh My!” Writing Inquiry, 3rd ed., edited by Gavin Johnson, Ashanka Kumari, Brian McShane, Rachel McShane, and Emily Littlejohn, Top Hat ed., 2023.
- McShane, Rachel. “Dancing Indian Princess: How Appropriation of Native American Dance is Sexual Violence.” A Record of the Wreckage of My Life: YA Voices in the #MeToo Movement, edited by Kimberly Karshner. Vernon Press, 2023.
- “The First Poem.” The Image, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, ed. by Amy George, et. al. April 2018. (Poetry) (Published under Rachel Huddleston.)
Stories by Rachel
The TAMUC Trailblazer: The Legacy of the First Black Student
Black History Month Series Part 2: Honoring and Recognizing Impactful Black Figures in the Lion Family Texas A&M University-Commerce is renowned for a student body comprised of people from a multitude of races, cultures, and countries. But it wasn’t always that way. At one point, only one non-white student attended the university, a young woman […]
Lions Feeding Lions: Match Challenge Brings Big Support to the Lion Food Pantry
Alumni Freddy and Margaret (Muffy) O’Pry presented the Lion Food Pantry with a $30,000 check on February 13 at the pantry’s grand reopening in the university’s Performing Arts Center. The funds were raised, in part, through the O’Pry Family Match Challenge in November 2023. During the challenge, donations made to the Lion Food Pantry were […]
Dr. David Talbot: TAMUC’s Champion for Civil Rights
Black History Month Series Part 1: Honoring and Recognizing Impactful Black Figures in the Lion Family Many students at Texas A&M University-Commerce have wandered the halls or taken classes in David Talbot Hall. Despite the building’s reputation as a well-known landmark—and possible ghost haven—on campus, many students and even faculty members are unacquainted with the […]
“Winter Blues”: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Tips to Fight It
Winter can be a beautiful season. The air gets colder; the holidays arrive, and a snow flurry might even appear. But for many, the feeling of “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” isn’t always pleasant. In fact, during the colder months, it isn’t uncommon for people to feel somewhat withdrawn, lonely and depressed. In other […]