RESEARCH INTERESTS​

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Trauma-Informed Education, Survivor Empowerment, Transformative Storytelling, Resilience, Conceptual Change, Authentic Semantics, Cognition, Student Development, Communication, Literature, Composition, Literary Theory

 

EDUCATION

 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Ph.D. in Individualized Interdisciplinary, degree expected May 2026

• Utilized the disciplines of English, Educational Psychology, Sociology, and Human Development

• 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, and Dr. Kee Jeong Kim

 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Graduate Certificate in Cognition and Education, expected May 2025

 

Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH

(Completed only 18 credits; concentrated on British Lit) MA in English Language and 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 May Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

BA in English, 2011

• Senior Thesis Seminar: Octavia Butler and African American Dystopian Literature

 

PUBLICATONS

 

Peer-reviewed Articles: 

 

(under review) Constructing a Response to Crisis: Storytelling as a Tool for Understanding Humanness. Journal of Creative Writing Studies

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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.

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The Power of Storytelling: Creatively Facilitating Conceptual Change in the Classroom. Journal of   Educational Research and Practice

 

Books:

 

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

            [redacted], Mackenzie. (2017). The Most Important Tuesday at Carbuncle Elementary School. CreateSpace. 

 

Poetry:

 

“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:

 

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)

 

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, Mackenzie (2024). Who Am I? Trauma Survivors' Understanding of Self Through Agentic Narrative. Virginia Ryan White Case Management Summit, Roanoke, VA; March 2024.

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

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

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

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

 

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)

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

 

Creative Writing Studies Organization, 2024- present

American Educational Research Association, 2024-present

American Psychological Association, 2024-present

College English Association, 2022-present

 

RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

 

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

Iota Delta Rho Interdisciplinary Honor Society, inducted 2023

Shenandoah Arts Council ArtScape 14 finalist, 2023

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

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

Winchester Education Foundation scholarship, 2019

Golden Gavel: Excellence in Teaching recipient; 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023

Nominated for Pushcart Prize (in poetry), 2017

Virginia State Liar’s Contest (2nd place), 2015