Rachel Atherton

Rachel Atherton is an Assistant Professor of English at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Humanities-Social Science-Arts department. Her work bridges technical communication, data visualization, and social justice, emphasizing critical approaches to rhetoric in digital and community contexts. She holds a PhD in English (Rhetoric & Composition) from Purdue University (2022), an MA from Purdue (2017), and dual BAs in English and German Studies from Southern Illinois University (2015).

Her research explores intersections between technology, pedagogy, and equity, including studies of amateur game design communities, data justice in policing, and pandemic-era demographic transparency. Notable awards include the 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award from Purdue’s English Department and the 2019/2018 SIGDOC Best Paper awards for collaborative work on game design communication.

Dr. Atherton’s advising and grants focus on tech comm pedagogies and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her recent articles highlight innovative methods for integrating empathy in engineering education and addressing gaps in quantitative/qualitative data systems. She lives with her partner and pets.