Faculty Profile
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Rachel Althof, Ed.D.

Program Chair, Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership

rachel.althof@franklin.edu

Education

2015
Columbia University (New York, New York)
Doctor of Education, Art and Art of Education
2004
The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
Master of Art, Art Education
2002
The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
Bachelor of Art Education, Art Education

Licensures

5 Year Professional Special All Grades (K-12) License, State of Ohio Department of Education

Work Experience

2021 - Present
Franklin University, Program Chair, Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
2021 - 2021
Franklin University, Lead Faculty
2018 - 2020
The Wellington School, Division Head
2015 - 2018
The Wellington School, Teaching and Learning Dean
2010 - 2011
Columbia University, Program Coordinator, Teacher Education

Publications & Presentations

Althof, R. (2026, Nov. 20). The Confidence-Humility Dialectic: Building Executive Presence as a Learnable Skill. The University Council for Educational Administration Annual Convention, Pittsburgh.
Althof, R. (2026, Mar. 16). Advancing Professional Practice in Organizational Leadership. Rutgers Online Learning Conference, Online.
Althof, R. (2025, Jul. 30). Executive Precision: A Practical Approach for Women Leaders in the 21st Century. The International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) Virtual Conference.
Althof, R., & Birchem, S. (2025, Jul. 29). Principals as Change Facilitators: Implementing High-Quality Instructional Materials. The International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) Virtual Conference.
Althof, R., Bennett, P., Hinkle, R., Seaborne, W., & Stoker, K. (2023, Nov. 10). Transferability of project management methodologies and skills: From constructing buildings to constructing dissertations. Project Management Institute Professional Development Day, Columbus, Ohio.
Althof, R. (2023, Oct. 04). Cultivating your executive presence: When the waves of feminism crash together. The International Leadership Association Global Conference, Online.
Althof, R. (2022, Nov. 04). Cultivating Your Executive Presence: Transcending Platitudes and Metaphors. The American Council on Education Women’s Network Ohio Annual Conference, Columbus, Ohio.
Althof, R. (2022, Sep. 21). Cultivating Your Executive Presence: Moving Beyond Platitudes to Bridge the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap. Raymond E. Mason Leadership Center Symposium.
Althof, R., & Morgan, K. (2022, Jun. 24). Women in Educational Leadership: Kindergarten through Higher Education. Doctoral Student Association Conference: Research Reimagined.
Althof, R. (2018). Ahead of the curve: App-enabled in the middle school. The Jag
Althof, R. (2017, Jan. 01). Negotiating Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech. Continuing the Conversation: Delving Into Difference Conference.
Althof, R., & Frim, J. (2016, Nov. 04). Beyond the Breakfast Club: Discipline and school culture. Independent School Association of the Central States, Columbus, Ohio.
Althof, R., & Backhurst, D. (2016). Focused engagement: Most likely to succeed. Well Said https://www.wellington.org/blog/partnership-provides-creative- collaboration/
Althof, R., & Backhurst, D. (2016). Focused engagement: Most likely to succeed. Well Said https://www.wellington.org/blog/ focused-engagement-most-likely-to-succeed/
Althof, R. (2015). Reflections on the Socratic method. Visual Inquiry 4(2), pp. 89-96.
Althof, R. (2010). Approaching Walter Benjamin from beyond. The New York Optimist http://www.thenewyorkoptimist.com/ RachelSmithAlthof_WalterBenjaminMarch23_2010.html
Althof, R. Developing ideas. Senior Practicum Course.
Althof, R. Mapping dialogue. The Wellington School Enrichment Series: Fearless Learning.
Althof, R., & Smith, R. Student-centered art education in a rough urban school. National Art Education Association, Chicago, Illinois.
Althof, R. Blooming pedagogy: A problem in methodology and content. Continuing the Conversation: Re-imagining Relationships Conference, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Althof, R. Curriculum in transition. Adolescent Artistic Development Course.
Althof, R. Child Rights Group's Education is a Road to Success Art Exhibit and Fundraiser. Child Rights Group's Education is a Road to Success Art Exhibit and Fundraiser.
Althof, R. Design thinking. The Wellington School Enrichment Series: All Things Wellington, Columbus, Ohio.
Althof, R., Harris, S., & Parsons, L. What does interdisciplinary collaboration look and sound like?. Ohio Association of Independent Schools, Hudson, Bath, Ohio.
Althof, R., & Smith, R. The ecology of an incident. National Art Education Association, New York, New York.
Althof, R. Studying dialogue: A problem in methodology and content. Ohio Art Education Association, Toledo, Ohio.

Professional Service

2026
Peer Reviewer
American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Action Research Special Interest Group
(Toronto, Ontario)
2026
Peer Reviewer
American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Division A - Administration, Leadership Preparation, Professional Growth and Advancement
(Toronto, Ontario)
2026
Peer Reviewer
American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Systems Thinking in Education Special Interest Group
(Toronto, Ontario)
2026
Peer Reviewer
American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership Special Interest Group
(Toronto, Ontario)
2026
Peer Reviewer
University Council for Educational Administration Conference
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
2026
Peer Reviewer
International Leadership Association (ILA) Global Conference
(Toronto, Ontario)
2025
Peer Reviewer
International Leadership Association (ILA) Global Conference
(Prague)
2024
Academic Leadership Fellow Discussion Circle Facilitator
Franklin University
(Columbus, Ohio)
2024
Peer Reviewer
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
(Denver, Colorado)
2024
Peer Reviewer
International Leadership Association (ILA) Global Conference
(Chicago, Illinois)
2023
Chair, Graduate Council
Franklin University, Faculty Senate
2022
Trustee
Marburn Academy
(New Albany, Ohio)
2021
Institutional Representative, Franklin University
American Council on Education, Women's Network Ohio
End Date: 2024
2021
Member, Personnel Committee
Franklin University, Faculty Senate
End Date: 2023

Memberships

2024
Pi Lambda Theta, Lifetime Member
2023
International Leadership Association
2018
Association for Supervision and Curriculum
2014
American Education Research Association
2011
Independent Schools of the Central States
2011
National Association for Independent Schools
2011
Ohio Association of Independent Schools