Rachel Swank

Email:
rmorin@purdue.edu

Links:

LinkedIn
Personal Website

Rachel Swank

PhD Student, College of Education; Academic Advisor, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; VP for the Association of Teacher Educators Indiana Chapter (ATE-I); Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) Chapter Counselor

Social Studies Education,
Curriculum and Instruction

Email:
rmorin@purdue.edu

Links:

LinkedIn
Personal Website

About

Rachel M. Swank is an educator, advisor, and researcher with extensive experience in social studies education, teacher preparation, and intercultural learning. Currently serving as an Academic Advisor in Purdue University’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, she also co-leads study abroad programs and teaches intercultural communication. Her career spans K–12 teaching, teacher licensure compliance, childcare workforce development, and higher education advising. She brings a strong record of leadership, curriculum design, and cross-cultural engagement, with a particular focus on teacher self-efficacy and intercultural learning.

Education
  • Ph.D. (in progress), Curriculum & Instruction- Social Studies Education, Purdue University, 2023–Present
  • M.A., Curriculum & Instruction- Social Studies Education, Purdue University, 2008–2011
  • B.A., History, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2003–2007
  • Indiana Instructional License (Rules 2002) for grades 5-12: Historical Perspectives (World & U.S. History), Government & Citizenship, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, and Gifted & Talented Education (P–12)

Career Experience
  • Academic Advisor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Purdue University (2025–Present)
  • Co-Instructor, Study Abroad, Purdue University (2023–Present)
  • Deputy Director, Community Childcare, Regional Early Childhood Education Initiatives (2024–2025)
  • Licensing Advisor/Officer, Office of Teacher Education & Licensure, Purdue University (2021–2024)
  • Program Assistant, Office of Experiential Learning, Purdue College of Pharmacy (2021)
  • Graduate Assistant, Purdue Office of Professional Preparation & Licensure (2009–2011)
  • Social Studies Teacher & Department Chair, Attica Jr./Sr. High School (2011–2021)

Awards & Honors
  • Millennium Scholarship- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2003)
  • General Wei-Chin & Madame Phoebe Lee Scholarship- Purdue (2009, 2023, 2024)
  • Kate Comiskey Rookie Advisor of the Year- Indiana Student Council (2014)
  • Advisor of the Year – Indiana Student Council (2016, 2019)
  • National Student Council Adviser of the Year Nominee (2016, 2019)
  • Lilly Creative Teaching Fellowship (2017)
  • Gedaliah Engel Education Award (2018)
  • Outstanding Service Award- Purdue College of Education (2022)
  • Intercultural Pedagogy Grant- Purdue (2023)
  • Robert Stevenson Scholarship- LFTE Advisory Council (2024)
  • Gerald H. Read Laureate Scholarship- Kappa Delta Pi (2024)
  • Midwest Regional Counselor of the Year- Kappa Delta Pi (2025)

Professional Appointments

Vice President, Association of Teacher Educators Indiana (ATE-I)
Counselor, Kappa Delta Pi (Teacher Education Honor Society), Purdue Chapter

Professional Affiliations/Memberships
  • Association of Teacher Educators- Indiana (ATE-I)
  • Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education
  • National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
  • Indiana Council for the Social Studies (ICSS)
  • Indiana Association of School Principals- Leadership Institute (IPLI)

Research & Publications

Rachel’s primary research examines the intersections of intercultural learning, teacher self-efficacy, and preservice teacher preparation. Her work explores how structured experiences- such as study abroad programs and intercultural communication coursework- strengthen self-efficacy in teaching practices and contribute to teacher retention.

Selected Publications

Publications & Presentations

  • Swank, R. (2010). Differentiation: Practical tools and strategies for secondary social studies educators (Conference presentation). Indiana Council for the Social Studies, Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Swank, R. (2023). Expanding Existing Licenses: Using Existing Faculty to Fill Anticipated Gaps (Conference Presentation). Rural Education Summit, West Lafayette, IN.
  • Swank, R. (2023). Tracking Students Through the Teacher Education Program (Conference Presentation). IREX Delegation of Teacher Educators, Purdue University.
  • Swank, R. (2025). Integrating intercultural learning in social studies teacher education programs (Conference Presentation). Annual Graduate Student Educational Research Symposium (AGSERS), Purdue University.
  • Swank, R. (2025). Caring for the caregivers: Strategies for promoting resilience and preventing burnout (Conference Presentation). Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC) 2025 Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Swank, R. (2025). Strengthening the Childcare Ecosystem: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Challenges in Childcare in our Region (Conference Presentation). HHS Update: Celebrating Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences, West Lafayette, IN.

Advisor

Dr. Anatoli Rapoport

Courses Typically Taught

EDCI 49000: Intercultural Learning & Communication

Research Area / Dissertation Topic

Intercultural Learning and preservice teacher self-efficacy