RESEARCH INTERESTS​

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Narrativity, Trauma-Informed Education, Universal Learning Design, Cognition, Survivor Empowerment, Transformative Storytelling, Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth, Student Learning, Conceptual Change, Constructivism, Intersubjectivity, Human Development, Strategic Communication, Rhetorical Situations and Strategies, Literature, Composition, Literary Theory

 

EDUCATION

 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

      Ph.D. in Individualized Interdisciplinary, degree expected December 2025

• Disciplines of English, Educational Psychology, Sociology, and Human Development

• 3.90 GPA

• Preliminary Exam Defended and Passed: April 2025

• Proposed dissertation: Empathetic Educational Environments: Advancing Cultural Sensitivity of Trauma Through Storytelling in the Secondary-level English Classroom

• Committee: Matthew Vollmer, MFA (Chair); Dr. Marcus Johnson (Co-chair); Dr. Katalin Parti; Dr. Kee Jeong Kim

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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

       Graduate Certificate in Cognition and Education, expected May 2025

 

Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH

       18 graduate credits concentrated on British Lit in English Language/Literature

 

University of Virginia-Wise, Wise, VA

       Teaching licensure coursework, 2016

• Concentration: Secondary (Grades 6-12)

 

Hollins University, Roanoke, VA

      MA in Children’s Literature, 2014  

• Passed Foreign Language Exam: German 7/2011

• Thesis: Storytelling: The Tradition, the Telling, and the Showing

• Committee: Dr. Rhonda Brock-Servais, Renee Englot, and C.W. Sullivan

 

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

       BA in English, 2011

• Senior Thesis: Octavia Butler and African American Dystopian Literature

 

PUBLICATONS

 

Journal Articles Currently Under Review:

 

              Rose, M. S. & Johnson, M. L. Constructing a Response: Storytelling as an Educational Tool for                                                                         Understanding Crisis. Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies.

 

              Rose, M. S. & Johnson, M. L. “You” are Stronger than You Thought: Second-person Perspective in Narrative Therapy.                                Narrative Inquiry. 

 

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles:

 

               Rose, M. S. & Johnson, M. L. (accepted for publication). The Power of Storytelling: Creatively Facilitating Conceptual                               Change in the Classroom. Journal of Educational Research and Practice.

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                Rose, M. S. & Johnson, M. L. (2025). Polytrauma and Executive Functioning: A Review of   Cognitive Protective                                           Mechanisms and Resilience. European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 9(1).                                                                                     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100503.

 

Books:

 

            Rose, Mackenzie. (2024). Post-Traumatic Poetry. Finishing Line Press.

            Rose, Mackenzie. (2017). The Most Important Tuesday at Carbuncle Elementary School. CreateSpace. 

 

Poetry:

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          “Jeanne Rose, grandmother.” Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; May 2025.

          “In the New River Valley.” Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; Mary 2025.

          “Here, let me explain why I adore flying.” Ink Nest Poetry; April 2025.

          “Nightmare.” Hare’s Paw Literary Journal; January 2025

          “I Know.” (Editor’s Choice) Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; December 2024

          “Alzheimer’s.” Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; December 2024

          “His Room.” Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; April 2024

          “Nine Lives: A Question.” The Paddock Review; April 2024

          “Parada de Autobus.” YARN Literary Magazine; April 2017

          “Jiffy Lube.” YARN Literary Magazine; April 2017

 

Art:

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            From Decay. Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; May 2025.

            Innocence. Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine; May 2025.

            To Begin. Beyond Words Magazine, 2025

            Freeze. Beyond Words Magazine, 2025

            I.C.U. Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine, December 2024

            Nine Lives (Editor’s Choice) Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine, April 2024

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

Adjunct Assistant Professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Shenandoah University, January 2022 to present

Classes taught:

The Principles of Public Speaking (MCOM-150)

English Composition (ENG-101)

Writing for Health Professions (ENG-302)

• Key player in initial creation of the Strategic Narrative Communication MA, 2023

 

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Education and Leadership, Shenandoah University, January 2023 to present

Classes taught:

Special Topic in Education: Motivation (EDU-503)

Special Topic in Education: Trauma-Informed Practices and Theories (EDU-503)

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Guest Lecturer, “Identity: Power, not Victimization,” Women and Gender Studies course: Creativity, Conflict, and Politics, Virginia Tech, February 2025

For class of 15 undergraduates, I framed personal utilization of creativity as a way to explore gender-based violence and emphasized "power" over "victimization” through re-authoring dominant narratives.

 

Guest Lecturer, “The Art and Science of Storytelling,” First Year Seminar: All the World's A Stage: How the Arts Connect Us, Shenandoah University, October 2024

Provided unique material on storytelling and its role in society. Engaged students in discussions of how artistic expression can lead to destigmatizing hard, complex topics, such as trauma and mental health.

 

English Teacher, John Handley High School, August 2016-July 2023

Classes taught:

Transitional English 1

English 1

Honors English 1

English 2

AP Language and Composition (dual enrolled with Laurel Ridge Community College)

AP Literature and Composition (dual enrolled with Laurel Ridge Community College)

Forensics Speech

Debate

• Designed admin approved 11th grade English class: “Addressing Social Issues in Young Adult Literature.”

• Directed annual school-wide Poetry Out Loud competition

• Taught recovery English credit during ASPIRE summer school, 2019

• Hand-selected to teach Project Based Learning English courses at inaugural Emil and Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center, 2021, 2022

• Organized community event for students to present original oratories and communicate important issues of their generation, 2022, 2023

 

REFEREED CONFERENCE PAPERS

 

Rose, M. S. (2025, March). Second-person Perspective in Narrative Therapy: An Action Research Study of Therapeutic and                                 Agentic Outcomes. Graduate & Professional Student Senate Research Symposium. Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA.

• Awarded 3rd Place in Social Impact & Sustainability Symposium Presentations

Rose, M. S. (2025, March). Who Am I? Trauma Survivors’ Understanding of Self Through Agentic Narrative. Virginia Ryan White                         Case Management Summit, Roanoke, VA.

Rose, M.S. (2024, November). Constructing a Response to Crisis: Storytelling as a Tool for Understanding Humanness. Creative                         Writing Studies Organization Conference, Blacksburg, VA.

Rose, M. S. (2023, February). The Story of the Future: Destigmatizing Trauma with Empathetic Educational Environments. Hollins                       University’s Leading Equity, Diversity, and Justice Conference, Roanoke, VA.

Rose, M. S. (2023, March). Mending with Monsters. College English Association, San Antonio, TX.

Rose, M.S. (2015, July). Oral Legacy: The Tradition of The Jack Tales and Other Culturally Pivotal Folktales. Shenandoah                                     University’s Children’s Literature Conference, Winchester, VA.

Rose, M. S. (2015, March). Literacy Enhanced by Storytelling: Moving into the Imagination. Virginia State Reading Association                           Conference, Richmond, VA.

Rose, M.S. (2014, October). Student Empowerment through Storytelling. Virginia Children’s Book Festival, Longwood University;                       Farmville, VA.

• Moderator for “Writing, Reading, Teaching, and Studying Children’s Literature” panel

 

NON-REFEREED PRESENTATIONS

 

Virginia Tech Women’s Center art exhibit and author talk: “Storytelling: The Art of Healing” (2024)

Art on First solo art exhibit and author talk: “The Other Side: Expressions of a Trauma Survivor” (2024)

StoryFest Live: Storytelling at Shenandoah University (2023) panelist

The Laurel Center’s Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness (2022) speaker

National Honor Society Inductee Ceremony (2019) key note speaker

Virginia Children’s Book Festival (2014) featured storyteller and panel moderator

Virginia Storytelling Alliance Spring Gathering Showcase (2014) featured storyteller

Virginia Association of Speech, Debate, and Drama Coaches Conference (2014) feat’d storyteller/speaker

Hollins University’s Francelia Butler Conference (2011, 2012, 2013) featured storyteller

Apple Valley Reading Council Conference (2012) featured storyteller and speaker

Shenandoah University’s Children’s Literature Conference (2012-2015) storyteller and speaker

Annual Read Across America Book Blast (2006-2016) featured storyteller

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Workshop Facilitator, Healing Arts, Art on First, November 2024

Through writing, collaging, and various art styles, participants created a picture of personal resilience. At the end of the workshop, participants came together for a presentation to share their story of resilience and connect through the power of storytelling.

 

Storyteller and Speaker, Self-employed, August 2007-August 2017

Developed and performed original stories for people of all ages with the main objective to improve children’s connection to literacy. Consistently presented at state-wide conferences, speaking to teachers, librarians, and administrators.

• Audiobook narrator for It All Started with a Bicycle by Plum McCauley (Amazon/Audible) July 2015

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES

 

Iota Delta Rho Interdisciplinary Honor Society at Virginia Tech, President (2024-2025)

American Educational Research Association, Division K Campus Liaison (2024-2025)

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CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

           

2025                Certification in Narrative Therapy, Virtued Academy International

2024                Trauma-Informed Certification Level 1, Attachment Trauma Network

2017                Post-graduate Virginia Teaching License in Secondary Education, endorsement: English

                               License Number: PGP-0676503; Renewal Date: June 30, 2032

 

RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

 

2025                Fellow, Summer Cunningham Fellowship presented by Virginia Tech

2025                Inductee, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Virginia Tech

2025                Finalist, Shenandoah Arts Council ArtScape 16 contest

2024                Graduate writer semi-finalist, Virginia Tech’s Glossolalia Literary Festival

2023                Inductee, Iota Delta Rho Interdisciplinary Honor Society, Virginia Tech

2023                Finalist, Shenandoah Arts Council ArtScape 14 contest

2022                Recipient, John Handley High School’s Recognition of Teaching Dedication

2022                Recipient, Winchester Public Schools’ “Ms. Handley” Faculty Homecoming Queen

2020                Recipient, Winchester Public Schools’ Secondary Shout-out for “Framing the Learning”

2019                Honoree, Student’s 1st place Storytelling performance of Mackenzie Rose’s The Most Important Tuesday at                                      Carbuncle Elementary School at VHSL’s State Championship

2019                Grantee, Winchester Education Foundation scholarship

2017-2023       Recipient, Winchester Public Schools’ Golden Gavel: Excellence in Teaching

2017                Nominee, Pushcart Prize (in poetry)

2015                Runner-up at the annual Virginia State Liar’s Contest

2011-2013       Graduate writer semi-finalist, Hollins University’s Francelia Butler Conference

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

 

Creative Writing Studies Organization, 2024- present

American Educational Research Association, 2024-present

American Psychological Association, 2024-present

College English Association, 2022-present