Rachel Kennison

Executive Director at CEILS, UCLA

Rachel Kennison is an accomplished educator and administrator at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).1 She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Education, Innovation and Learning in the Sciences (CEILS) at UCLA, a position she has held since July 2021.1

Professional Background

Rachel Kennison's career at UCLA spans over a decade, during which she has held several key positions:

Executive Director of CEILS (July 2021 - Present)
Associate Teaching Professor (July 2021 - Present)
Senior Associate Director of Professional Development and Student Engagement (September 2016 - July 2021)
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Research-Sciences (July 2014 - September 2016)

In her current role, she leads a team focused on promoting equity and justice in STEM education through collaboration, partnership, and community engagement.1

Education and Expertise

Dr. Kennison's educational background is diverse:

PhD in Marine Ecology from UCLA (2000-2008)
Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University (1996-1998)
BS in Anthropology from Sarah Lawrence College (1984-1987)1

This multidisciplinary background informs her approach to education and leadership, combining scientific expertise with social work principles.

Professional Philosophy

Rachel Kennison describes herself as an "innovative change leader" who is committed to promoting equity and justice in STEM education.1 She emphasizes values such as authenticity, integrity, and kindness in her work, drawing inspiration from social work training and the teachings of Brené Brown.1

Key Responsibilities

As Executive Director, her duties include:

Administering professional development programs
Implementing evidence-based scientific teaching training
Developing workshops on becoming an antiracist educator
Supervising a core team of academic administrators
Collaborating with faculty and administrators on campus-wide teaching initiatives1

Rachel Kennison is also involved in broader initiatives in higher education. She serves as a Co-PI for the Aspire Alliance, where she provides consultation on programming and sustainability planning for improving STEM education.2

Experience

Executive Director, Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences (CEILS) at UCLA since July 2021

Associate Teaching Professor, Senior Associate Director, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Research-Sciences, and more at UCLA

Education

PhD in Marine Ecology from UCLA (2000-2008), MS in Social Work from Columbia University (1996-1998), BS in Anthropology from Sarah Lawrence College (1984-1987)