Rachel grew up in Juneau, Alaska, but came to Minnesota to attend College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University in Saint Cloud. She holds a degree in Political Science with concentrations in Data Analysis and History.

Rachel has long held a passion for education. In elementary school, she invented her own (questionable) spelling and geography lessons for her peers, and she moved on to tutor friends throughout middle and high school. In college, she became interested in educational equity, working for 4 years as a tutor for Upward Bound, as well as working with under-resourced students while studying abroad in Zambia and South Africa. She came to Breakthrough as a Teaching Fellow in 2023 and immediately loved the Breakthrough mission and community. She returned as a Summer Program Associate in 2025. 

In her spare time, Rachel enjoys exploring new neighborhoods and parks, going on hikes, crocheting clothes, and reading. She loves to attend community events and learn about local history and politics.