Scholar · Artist · Educator
Rachel E. Blackburn
M.F.A., Ph.D.
I’m an interdisciplinary educator, scholar, and artist with a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies and an M.F.A. in Pedagogy. My work lives at the crossroads of performance, pedagogy, and intersectionality — using tools from stand-up comedy, theatrical practice, and solo performance to help individuals and teams rethink inclusion, communication, and collaboration.
New from Routledge
About Me
Rigor, blended with play
I’ve spent my career translating performance, pedagogy, and research into impactful learning experiences across corporate, academic, and creative contexts.
In addition to teaching at institutions including the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Emerson College, and Columbus State University, I currently design and lead workshops for a UX research–focused SaaS company, facilitating engaging, human-centered learning for researchers, leaders, and cross-functional teams. Whether I’m speaking, teaching, or coaching, my approach blends rigor with play, helping people think more clearly, collaborate more generously, and show up more fully for themselves and each other.
Services
Coaching & Consulting
Academic and Writing Assistance
Dissertation advising, thesis supervision, academic mentorship, and scholarly writing support for graduate students and early-career academics.
Public Speaking
Presentation coaching, public speaking training, and communication skills development for professionals, academics, and performers.
Performance Coaching
Acting coaching grounded in Stanislavski and Laban movement-based methodologies — audition preparation, character work, and script analysis.
Workshop Facilitation
Team building through improvisation, public speaking and presentation workshops, research workshops, sketch comedy writing, and professional development programs for organizations.
Comedy Coaching
Stand-up comedy development, improvisation, sketch comedy writing, and humor writing coaching for performers, speakers, and content creators.
Let’s Talk
Interested in Working Together?
I’m available for coaching, consulting, speaking engagements, and collaborative projects. Let’s discuss how I can help.