Mackenzie Rose

Mackenzie Rose is a PhD candidate (ABD) at Virginia Tech, an accomplished educator, and a passionate advocate for trauma-informed interventions and equitable access in education. With over a decade of teaching experience across K–12 and higher education, Mackenzie’s work centers on empowering diverse student populations through storytelling, inclusive pedagogies, and cognitive-emotional support in the classroom. Her interdisciplinary doctoral research explores the intersection of narrative, trauma, and education, focusing on how storytelling can be used as a therapeutic and transformative tool for learning, particularly for students impacted by PTSD.
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Currently serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Shenandoah University, Mackenzie teaches across multiple departments, including Media & Communications, English, and Education and Leadership. Her career reflects a strong commitment to inclusion, healing-centered education, and academic rigor. She has published peer-reviewed work on conceptual change and trauma, and actively presents at conferences nationwide. Through her storytelling initiative, Toogy Tales, Mackenzie has inspired learners of all ages, and continues to foster meaningful dialogue on trauma, equity, and resilience in both academic and community spaces.

• Trauma Informed Certified, Level 1
• Social and Behavioral Research
• Postgraduate Professional License

• Virginia Tech- Ph.D.
• Southern New Hampshire University
• The University of Virginia's College at Wise
• Hollins University- M.A.
• University of Mary Washington- B.A.

• American Educational Research Association
• American Psychological Association
• Iota Delta Rho (Interdisciplinary Honor Society)
• College English Association
• Virginia Educational Research Association