Inspired by connection, community, problem solving, and creativity, Rachel finds her professional happy place working with nonprofits. In her earliest years in the sector, she worked as a teaching artist, facilitating an afterschool theater program for underserved K-12 students and teaching voice lessons at a community arts center. Rachel has been active in nonprofit fundraising since 2017. Prior to joining Elevate, she worked as a grant writer and corporate relations specialist with Mosaic Family Services, a Dallas-based nonprofit serving refugees and diverse survivors of family violence and human trafficking. She has also supported both grantmaking and grant writing activity in the arts sector, serving for two years as a grants reviewer with the Arts Council of Fort Worth and leading grant writing efforts for Verdigris Ensemble, a young arts nonprofit focused on interdisciplinary music performance and education.

A lifelong musician, Rachel is a classically trained singer and spent many years working as a private vocal instructor and professional vocalist. She holds two music degrees in vocal performance, including a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelor’s degree from Bennington College.

Rachel’s biggest current passion is raising her two exceptionally fantastic kiddos alongside her incredible husband. Having weathered two years of at-home Covid toddler parenting, she is delighting in this current – much easier! – domestic chapter. She finds added purpose through engaging with other causes she cares about, including gun violence prevention and reproductive justice. When she can grab a spare moment, Rachel is happiest to be reading (Ross Gay’s Inciting Joy is a recent favorite), playing outside with her family, or singing.