English Professor at MCC Receives 'Outstanding Woman of the Year Award'

Rae Strickland, professor of English at , recently received the 2012 Outstanding Woman of the Year Award from the MCC Women’s Caucus. The annual award is given to a woman who works at MCC and exemplifies leadership qualities, acts as a role model and mentor, and has contributed to the achievements of women through her activities on campus.

As written in the award’s nomination letter, Strickland has been “a tireless advocate for the college, championing its mission in many ways.” She has counseled and supported many students at MCC, has shared strategies for the classroom and for curriculum across departments, mentored colleagues and has always been a strong presence in meetings – someone who will question and challenge when necessary. She characterizes herself as her father had - “just the gal to snap someone’s suspenders.” Additionally, she has served as English department co-chair, been involved in the MCC Alumni Association and MCC Foundation, and has taken on important campus work, such as writing the college’s accrediting body’s 5-year report and volunteering to develop the upcoming English department self-study.

Strickland is a graduate of Manchester Community College. She received her undergraduate degree from Bard College, her graduate degree from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her doctorate degree from Durham University in England. Her dissertation, Composing Our Identities: Teaching Composition in an American Community College, was published by Lambert Academic Publishing.