Alumni
Spotlights
Rachel Noall '10
Rachel Noall ’10 has been using the writing and entrepreneurial skills that she learned at Gilmour in her post-graduate life.
After Gilmour, Rachel attended Allegheny College, where she majored in English. After graduating in 2014, she moved back to the Cleveland area before spending a year serving in the AmeriCorps. Once she completed her term, she moved to Denver and began teaching special education.
A few years in, Rachel took a leap of faith to pursue her true passion – writing. She quit her teaching job to become a full-time writer. “It sounds crazy but it’s all worked out. I paired my love of writing, creative and technical, with marketing and it’s been nothing less than the best choice I’ve ever made” says Noall.
Fast forward three years. Rachel is now a published poet and the founding editor of a literary magazine entitled “From Whispers to Roars.” She is finishing up her master’s of fine arts and is about to start an adjunct teaching position. In addition to her writing, she is also the chief of digital strategies at EX-IQ, a tech company for which she works remotely.
When asked how Gilmour prepared her for her career paths, Rachel mentioned her love of Gilmour’s liberal arts education. “My time at Gilmour gave me a taste of everything, which is reflected in the many directions my career has taken me.” She also mentioned Dr. Sabik and Mr. Overman being extremely impactful on her. “Dr. Sabik’s teaching of close reading, paired with her love of language is something I will carry with me throughout all of my pursuits … especially my poetry, and Mr. Overman has been an incredible resource and friend along my writing journey. I will never forget his passion and his depth of knowledge continues to wow me.”
In reflecting on her time at the Academy, Rachel couldn’t help but mention the incredible faculty. “It’s of college caliber, and as a student, you sometimes don’t understand that until you’ve left. They’re all fantastic, passionate and hard-working people. I couldn’t have asked for better examples of scholars and mentors.”
Thanks to her success, Rachel has been able to experience some amazing things such as traveling to France to watch the United States Women’s National Team in the Women’s World Cup. When asked where she sees herself in five to 10 years, she says she wants to be exactly where she is right now. “I am very happily engaged and am a hardcore puppy mom. Life is good.”
Thanks to her success, Rachel has been able to experience some amazing things such as traveling to France to watch the United States Women’s National Team in the Women’s World Cup. When asked where she sees herself in five to 10 years, she says she wants to be exactly where she is right now. “I am very happily engaged and am a hardcore puppy mom. Life is good.”
