RACHEL J. CHAPMAN
Queens, NY
rchapman@gradcenter.cuny.edu
EDUCATION
The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY). New York, NY
Ph.D. in Urban Education. Expected 2019
Language, Context and Culture Specialization
M.A., Latin American Studies. August 2013
The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. GPA: 4.0
Thesis: The Use of Humor in Critical and Multicultural Methodologies within a Tucson
High School Classroom
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Julio Cammarota
B.A., Sociology and Spanish. May 2008
The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio. GPA: 3.8
College Honors and Magna Cum Laude
Honors Senior Project: Recycled Livelihoods: Women’s Experiences in Guatemala
City’s Garbage Dump Community
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Fellow August 2015-Present
Queens College, City University of New York. York, Flushing, NY
Co-teach freshman lecture class, “Education in Global Times” (60 students) and junior preservice
teacher class, “Diversity in Education” (25 students) with Dr. Joel Spring.
Adjunct Spanish Instructor December 2013-June 2014. Community College of Aurora. Aurora, CO
Instructed SPAN 111, conducted weekly office hours, co-led Spanish Club meetings.
Graduate Assistant in Teaching August 2011-May 2013
The University of Arizona. Tucson, Arizona
Instructed Basic to Intermediate College Spanish. Weekly tutored university students of basic,
intermediate and advanced Spanish classes. Conducted weekly office hours, organized
extracurricular activities, co-led Spanish Club meetings. LGBTQ Safe Zone Certified.
Spanish K-12 Teacher August 2009-June 2011
Geauga, Lake and Cuyahoga Counties, Ohio
PreK-12 long term Spanish substitute teacher in eight different public school districts of rural,
urban and suburban communities in northeast Ohio.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant August 2014-June 2015
The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY). New York, NY.
Collect, analyze and organize secondary sources on the role of technology in the history of
higher education for professor of Urban Education, Dr. Steve Brier.
Research Assistant August 2014-January 2015
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York (CUNY). New York, NY.
Member of support team to three public schools enrolled in the New York State Initiative on
Emergent Bilinguals (NYSIEB). Organized, initiated and facilitated school visits and leadership
meetings with school teams and conducted classroom observations. Co-authored report visits and
professional development presentations.
Student Researcher January 2013-July 2013
The University of Arizona. Tucson, Arizona
Implemented ethnography of a Tucson public alternative high school on the use of humor and
critical pedagogy. Successfully presented final research results in a Master of Arts thesis defense,
July 2013.
Student Researcher May 2007-August 2007
The University of Toledo. Toledo, Ohio
Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Implemented ethnography of a Women’s Literacy Classroom in the garbage dump community of
Guatemala City. Volunteered as Literacy Program Assistant to Camino Seguro (Safe Passage).
Visited the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala library to gather local research and
interview Sociology professors. .
Research Assistant May 2006-August 2006
The University of Toledo. Toledo, Ohio.
Worked on data collection and analysis on U.S.-Canadian refugee policy research with Dr.
McGadney-Douglass, professor of Social Work.
ACADEMIC SERVICE
Executive Committee July 2015-present
Urban Education Student Association, The Graduate Center. New York, NY.
Plan and facilitate professional development opportunities for Urban Ed students. Represent
student interests and participation in Urban Ed doctoral program.
Student Representative July 2015-present
Doctoral Student Council, The Graduate Center, New York, NY.
Student Representative of Urban Education Program to student governing body of Graduate
Center. Serve as University Student Senate Delegate Alternate.
ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS
The Graduate Center, Presidential Research Grant. April 2015
The Graduate Center Five year Fellowship. March 2014
Edward J. Williams Research Scholarship. University of Arizona. April 2013
Center for Latin American Studies Research Grant. University of Arizona. February 2013
Dean’s Leadership Award. University of Toledo. May 2008
Best Student Paper Award. Midwest Sociological Association. February 2008
Sullivan Fellowship Award. University of Toledo. December 2006 and 2007.
Undergraduate Research Grant. University of Toledo. April 2006 and April 2007
Outstanding Women’s Award. University Women’s Commission. April 2006
INVITED TALKS AND ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS
The Graduate Center. New York, NY. February 2015. Student Discussion with Dr. Antonia
Darder. Activism and Academia.
California National Association of Multicultural Education Conference. San Diego, CA. January
2015. Humanizing Education: Humor and Critical Pedagogy in a Tucson High School.
Westerville Elementary School, Westerville, Ohio. May 2013. Presentation to 100 fifth graders:
History of Mexican Immigration.
Annual Student Conference on Latin America. The University of Texas at Austin. February
2013. Paper presentation: The Practice of Inclusive Pedagogy within the Context of Exclusionary
Anti-Immigrant Policies in a Tucson High School Classroom.
Solon High School, Solon, Ohio. May 2012. Presentation to 250 Spanish high school students:
History of Mexican Immigration.
Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Student Symposium, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
February 2012. Paper presentation: Reclaiming Public Space through Performance and
Convergence: La Virgen de Guadalupe in the U.S.
Beachwood High School. Beachwood, Ohio. October 2010. Presentation to 50 Sociology high
school students. Recycled Livelihoods in Guatemala City’s Garbage Dump Community.
Midwest Association for Latin American Studies Conference. St Louis, Missouri. November
2007. Paper presentation: Recycled Livelihoods: Women’s Experiences in Guatemala City’s
Garbage Dump Community.
University of Toledo’s Eberly Center for Women. Toledo, Ohio. September 2007. Powerpoint
presentation: The Hair Project: the Cultural and Gendered Meaning of Hair.
National Conference for Undergraduate Research: Dominican University of California. April 12-
14, 2007. Poster Presentation: Gender Based Violence Protections: Case Assessment of Female
Asylum Seekers in Canada and the United States.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Board of Directors April 2012-April 2013
Tucson Conspiracy Food Co-op, Tucson, Arizona
Assist general manager with financial budgets, expansion plans and long-term goals in relation to
membership, community outreach and growth.
Intern May 2012-August 2012
Hispanos Organizados de Lake y Ashtabula Counties (HOLA), Painesville, Ohio
Assisted executive director with grant writing and organization planning. Planned and facilitated
weekly meetings and discussions for youth, ages 14-19. Organized and facilitated a two-day
camping trip with youth.
