Rachel Toliver [email protected] 4708 22nd Avenue NE #6 Seattle, WA 98105 (718) 490-4679
Experience Seattle Pacific University, Seattle WA Milton Postgraduate Fellow September 2018-July 2019
The Ohio State University, Columbus OH Graduate Teaching Assistant August 2015-May 2018 Moderated student workshop discussions, focusing on development of craft and revision strategies particular to students’ individual writing goals. Selected relevant nonfiction readings. Scaffolded writing activities and targeted mini-lessons. Enhanced success of higher-needs students through relevant interventions, accommodations and personalized instruction.
Central High School, Philadelphia, PA English Teacher/ Mentally Gifted Mentor September 2008-June 2015 Designed and implemented curriculum for Mentally Gifted literature courses at public, college-preparatory high school. Mentored students in creative writing, including portfolio creation and submission to literary journals/ contests. Sponsored literary magazine and coached spoken-word poetry team. Proposed and innovated original curriculum for new, project-based course, “English with Creative Writing Concentration.” Achieved National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (held by 3% of teachers nationally).
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA Adjunct Professor August 2006-May 2008 Evolved and instituted curriculum for course in Professional Writing. Provided detailed feedback on student work in a timely fashion. Conferred with students regarding progress in the course and need for additional support. Integrated various forms of technology into curriculum.
The Journal of Modern Literature, Philadelphia, PA Managing Editor March 2006-August 2008 Corresponded with authors regarding the submission, editing and finalizing of manuscripts. Served as liaison between journal editors, compositor and Indiana University Press. Developed systems for tracking submissions, documents for publication, and paperwork. Edited and proofread all copy published in the journal.
I.S. 392 School for the Gifted and Talented, Brooklyn, New York Seventh-Grade Teacher September 2002-June 2005 Instituted multiple school-wide and classroom programs under strict deadlines. Created organized systems for record-keeping and lesson-planning. Edited student writing for semimonthly publication. Communicated effectively with students and parents.
Education The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction, May 2018
Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY Master of Arts in Secondary English Education, February 2005 New York State certification in Secondary English Education
Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY Bachelor of Arts, May 2002 Major: English (Writing Concentration)
St. Peter’s College, University of Oxford, England Junior Year Abroad, Fall 2000-Summer 2001
Publications • Short story, “Legion” in American Literary Review Spring 2018 (online) • Essay, “Abridgments” in Prairie Schooner 91.3 (print) • Essay, “My Cartographies” in Mid-American Review Fall 2017 (print) • Essay, “Ownership” in West Branch 84 (print) • Essay, “Everything Connected, Everything Broken” in Creative Nonfiction 63 (print) • Craft Essay, “Beyond ‘Craft for Craft’s Sake’: Nonfiction and Social Justice” (co-authored with M. Sauson) in Brevity 54 (online) • Essay, “Hamartia: The Failure to Recognize” in TriQuarterly 151 (online) • Short story, “Little Pitchers Have Big Ears” in Contrary Autumn 2016 (online) • Essay, “The Lack of Absence” in Pithead Chapel 5.10 (online) • Essay, “The Privilege Walk” in Puerto Del Sol 52.1 (print) • Essay, “Discipline” in Arcadia 11.1 (print) • Essay, “That One Last” in Redivider 14.2 (print) • Essay, “The Acres” in American Literary Review Fall 2016 (online) • Essay, “Notes from a Professional Pencil-Wench” in The Chattahoochee Review 36.2-3 (print) • Essay, “Shenandoah” in Brevity 52 (online) • Essay, “The History of an Itch” in The Pinch 36. 2 (print) • Article, “What Are the Children Who Grow up to Become Police Officers Learning in School?” in The New Republic September 2014 • Short story, “Suicide by Border Patrol” in Monkeybicycle July 2014 (online) • Short story, “Of Malls and Dostoevsky” in The Ampersand Review July 2013 (online) • Flash fiction, “From the Inside” in PANK 8 (print) • Essay, “My Summer Disease” in Third Coast Fall 2012 (print) • Essay, “How the Lake Saved Me” in Phoebe 41.2 (online) • Essay, “First Apartment—Brooklyn, 2002” in Brevity 36 (online) • Essay, “The Pedagogy of Decoration” in Literal Latte Spring 2009 (online)
Service—The Ohio State University • Writers Guild Editors Panel—Co-Coordinator • The Journal—Nonfiction Editor • The Non/Fiction Book Prize—Editorial Board • The Journal/Charles B. Wheeler Poetry Prize—Reader
Honors and Awards • Essay, “My Cartographies,” named notable essay in Best American Essays 2018 • Essay collection, My Cartographies, selected as Finalist for Subito Press’ 2017 Prose Book Prize and as Honorable Mention for Seneca Review’s Deborah Tall Lyric Essay Book Prize • Short story, “Legion,” selected as first-place winner of American Literary Review’s 2017 fiction contest • Awarded Ohio State’s Thesis and Dissertation Completion Fellowship, granted to two students with the most promising book manuscripts • Winner of 2017 Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Creative Nonfiction • Winner of 2018 Haidee Forsyth Burkhardt Award in Creative Nonfiction • Winner of 2017 AWP Intro Journals Project for essay, “My Cartographies” • Short story, “Little Pitchers Have Big Ears,” selected as semi-finalist in Norman Mailer Writing Award for High School Teachers