Dr. Rachel Bates
With over 20 years of dedicated service in the field of mathematics education, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to equity, excellence, and empowerment. Grounded in the belief that education is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for social change, I have worked tirelessly to dismantle barriers to access and opportunity, championing inclusive practices and equitable policies. I have had the opportunity to shape the strategic direction of higher education, leading system and institutional level initiatives to enhance student success, promote faculty development, and foster a culture of innovation and excellence.
As an educational leader, I am driven by a deep commitment to fostering environments where all members of the learning community thrive. Grounded in the belief that education is a transformative process, my administrative philosophy is deeply intertwined with my teaching philosophy, centering on principles of equity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
As an administrator, I embrace a collaborative and servant leadership approach, working alongside others to achieve shared goals. Drawing from my teaching philosophy, I believe in distributed leadership, empowering stakeholders at all levels to contribute to decision-making and innovation. I lead by example, modeling a commitment to integrity, transparency, and ethical leadership. I advocate for policies and practices that support holistic student development, including academic, social, emotional, and cultural growth.
- PhD – Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum, Mathematics Education – University of Oklahoma
- MEd – Curriculum and Instruction, Wichita State University
- BS – Mathematics, Wichita State University
Current Initiatives:
Kansas Math Pathways
As a member of the Kansas Math Pathways Taskforce, I will use my expertise and experiences with math pathways, corequisite courses, multiple measures and general education mathematics course development to assist with this statewide initiative. The focus of this key initiative is to reduce mathematics remediation and implement system-wide meta-majors. The Kansas Board of Regents seeks to implement proven practices that remove obstacles and advance access, affordability, success, and completion for all students.
Concurrent Enrollment
Cowley College provides opportunities for eligible high school students to start earning college credit prior to graduating from high school. As a member of National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), Cowley College implements best practices to ensure program quality and improve program access and student engagement.