My Story
I'm Rachel McBride Lindsey. I'm from Springfield, Missouri, where I attended public schools from Kindergarten through college. My great-grandmother, Vivian, taught in a one-room schoolhouse before she married my great-grandfather, Willard. Together, they raised four children. My grandfather, John, was their oldest and went on to become a professor at Southwest Missouri State, a former teacher's college, after marrying my grandmother, Charlotte, and serving in the Navy. They also had four children, including my mom, Valerie. By the time I came along, multiple generations of my family had benefited from the opportunities of public education and throughout my girlhood, they taught me the responsibilities that came with them. Those lessons have stayed with me as I have raised my own children to value their education not only as an instrument of personal advancement but as a part of creating and sustaining strong communities.
​
Today, I am an associate professor at Saint Louis University and hold a PhD from Princeton University. I've lived in the district since 2013 and my kids have been in MRH schools from the ECC to now, when they are both in high school. My oldest is a junior, and my youngest is a freshman. (We now share our home with our fur babies but alas they don't attend MRH schools). In my work life, I spend a lot of time teaching and researching American history and culture. I also spend a lot of time creating spaces for people--students, staff, faculty, and others--to achieve their potential and build knowledge together.
​
I am running for school board to bring my experience and expertise in education and public life to prioritize learning and champion the education of all kids in our district.
My Experience
I have more than 10 years of experience teaching, designing curriculum, researching and publishing, and serving in leadership roles at the college level. Here are some of my professional experiences that prepare me to lead with confidence, competence, and integrity on the MRH Board of Education. For my full professional resume (C.V.), including courses taught, publications, presentations, and other professional activities and recognitions, click here.
​
Current Academic Position
Associate Professor, Theological Studies (American Religion & Culture), Saint Louis University
Education
-
Ph.D. Princeton University, 2012
-
B.A. Missouri State University, 2006
​
Books
-
Record and Revelation (under contract, UNC Press)
-
Religion and Digital Humanities, co-edited (DeGruyter, 2022)
-
A Communion of Shadows (UNC Press, 2017)
Leadership & Service
-
Founding Director, Center on Lived Religion, SLU (2023–)
-
President, Midwest American Academy of Religion (2022–2024)
-
Co-Director, Lived Religion in the Digital Age (2018–2023)
-
Religion and the Arts Award Jury, AAR (2021–2024)
-
Vice President, Midwest AAR (2020–2022)
-
Arts, Literature, and Religion Steering Committee, AAR (2018–2022)
-
Academic Labor and Contingent Faculty Working Group, AAR (2017–2020)
-
Material and Sensory Culture Section Chair, Midwest AAR (2013–2019)
University Committees
-
Walter J. Ong Center for Digital Humanities Advisory Board (2020–)
-
Cultures of American Religion Workshop, SLU (2016–2019)
-
Academic Affairs Committee, SLU College of Arts & Sciences (2017)
-
Graduate Studies Committee, Dept. of Theological Studies (2023–)
-
Danforth Chair & Late Antiquity Search Committees (2021–2023)
Grants & Honors
-
Henry Luce Foundation grants totaling ~$870,000 (2018–2025)
-
Foundation Grantwinner Award, SLU Office of VP for Research (2024)
-
Young Scholars of American Religion Fellowship, IUPUI (2019–2022)
-
Donald G. Brennan Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching (2021)
-
Mellon Faculty Summer Research Award, SLU (2021)
​