Brianna August-Rae

Brianna August-Rae serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling within East Tennessee State University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She joined ETSU in 2023, drawn to one of the nation's few departments specializing in academic storytelling. Her institutional roles include Affiliate of ETSU's Center for Teaching Excellence, Scholarship & Awards Coordinator, and Director of COMM 2045: Public Speaking.

Her research examines how storytelling and story-listening shape identities, organizational structures, and healing processes, with specific focus on integrating arts and humanities into medical education. This work appears in journals including Social Science & Medicine, Health Communication, and Culture, Health, & Sexuality. She actively contributes to the international Health Humanities Consortium, promoting narrative approaches in healthcare systems.

Dr. August-Rae teaches courses in qualitative methods, health communication, narrative medicine, and intercultural communication. She emphasizes practical applications of storytelling in Appalachian healthcare contexts, drawing connections between regional cultural assets and medical practice. Her mentorship philosophy, informed by positive reinforcement training methods, prioritizes creating 'fun and fulfilling' learning experiences that bridge academic theory and community impact.

As Scholarship & Awards Coordinator, she facilitates student funding opportunities while advancing narrative medicine through campus initiatives. Her work demonstrates strong alignment with ETSU's mission to integrate regional cultural heritage with innovative healthcare education.