Rachael D. Smith

Rachael D. Smith serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor affiliated with both the Department of History and Women's and Gender Studies program within Ball State University's College of Sciences and Humanities. She holds advanced degrees in Religious Studies from Ball State and previously taught at Ivy Tech Community College.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies, Ball State University
• Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Ball State University

Research Focus

Her scholarship examines gender-religion intersections, particularly male participation in female-oriented Pagan communities in America as explored in her master's thesis. Current research analyzes connections between protest chants and religious ideologies of manifestation/banishment, investigating how ritual language shapes social movement strategies and spiritual identity formation through contemporary activism.

Professional Background

Prior to her Ball State appointment, Professor Smith taught at Ivy Tech Community College, bringing community college experience to her university role while expanding her thesis research for publication.