Rachel Messer
Rachel Messer joined UNC Charlotte following over a decade in higher education as an administrator, faculty member and consultant. She is especially interested in the role of assessment and planning within arts and design education environments, valuing approaches to student success that balance data-informed insights with creative goals.
Her background spans leadership in assessment, planning and accreditation across diverse institutional settings. She guided HLC compliance for online learning as Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and led assessment redesigns as Psychology Department Chair at Bethel College (KS), where she was recognized as a 2019 Kansas Higher Education Aspiring Campus Leader. She served as Assistant Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at Florida Atlantic University, where she supported faculty in developing and assessing high-impact educational practices as part of SACSCOC reaccreditation and the QEP. Her planning experience includes co-chairing the College of Arts & Sciences strategic planning committee at the University of Pikeville, as well as serving as a founding board member for the Appalachian College Association’s Center for Teaching & Learning. Additionally, her expertise in mixed-methods data includes leading teams in higher education consulting to evaluate grant programs and educational accessibility. Throughout her career, she has also contributed to broader education advocacy, such as serving as Academic Representative on the Kentucky Psychological Association board of directors.
Rachel earned her Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology (Cognitive Track) and an M.S. in Psychology from Oklahoma State University, following a B.S. in Psychology and French from Morehead State University. She has published over 25 research papers, encyclopedia entries and reviews, and regularly presents at workshops and conferences. Outside of her academic work, she is a former violist and dancer who remains an enthusiastic lifelong supporter of the arts.