Rachel graduated from Swarthmore College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in English literature. She received a number of awards, including Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and the Oak Leaf Award—presented by faculty to the woman of the graduating class who is the most outstanding leader, scholar, and contributor to the college community. Following Swarthmore, Rachel entered a graduate program in clinical psychology at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Ph.D. in 1998. During graduate school, Rachel’s internships included psychotherapy with children, families, adults, and couples. Her dissertation investigated how women who have recovered from anorexia and bulimia explain their reasons for developing an eating disorder. In addition to completing coursework, clinical practice, and research, Rachel taught courses in the psychology department throughout graduate school. After graduating, Rachel worked in private practice, supervised psychology interns at the University of Michigan’s Psychological Clinic, and continued to teach in the University of Michigan psychology department. Rachel and her husband returned to the Northeast in 2001, when Rachel was invited to serve as a visiting professor at Wesleyan University. In 2006, she served as a consultant to the Taft Counseling Center while still teaching in Wesleyan’s psychology department. In 2007, Rachel was invited to join the Taft faculty as a school counselor and began teaching AP Psychology. Rachel now serves as the director of counseling and continues to counsel students, teach AP Psychology, and work as a team member of the Character, Leadership and Wellness program. Rachel lives in Middlebury with her husband and two children.