Strategic Partners

Rachel Walker Bowman

Education
(she/her)

Rachel Walker Bowman is a doctoral student in Special Education and Disability Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University. Rachel earned her master's degree from Columbia University in 2014. She has over seven years of experience as a special educator and practiced in New York City, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Rachel conducted research on family engagement with the Flamboyan Foundation in D.C., piloted the elementary Deaf education program in DCPS, and received a commendation from former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for her excellence in teaching.

Rachel is currently serving as a research assistant with the Minority Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Equity Center at VCU. She is researching strategies for recruiting and retaining qualified and diverse special educators. Rachel's research interests include minority teacher retention, harm reduction in special education, ableism, and equity.

Rachel lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and dog.