Who We Are
Who We Are
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DID YOU KNOW?
The College of Liberal Arts (COLA) employees over 250 full- and part-time professional-track faculty (PTF). In the 2024-25 academic year, COLA PTF generated almost twice the semester credit hours (SCH) as their tenured colleagues, when comparing SCH to FTEs (full time equivalents). Our PTF taught an impressive 144, 175 SCH.
Explore more faculty data at Data to Insights.
COLA Professional-Track Faculty Profiles
Each semester we will feature new profiles of PTF from around COLA.
Rachel Ozanne
Meet Rachel Ozanne, Assistant Professor of Instruction in History. She earned her Ph.D. from UT in 2013 and is a scholar of religion in American history. We recently asked her a few questions to get to know her better:
What is your favorite class to teach?
It's a tie between HIS 345J: The Coming of the Civil War and HIS 365G: Unbelief in America. These two courses are most closely tied to my PhD research, so I really have fun teaching the topics in those courses. Plus, they are smaller lecture courses, which means I usually get to know my students pretty well.
We teach our students so much. What have you learned from them?
My students inspire me to maintain my curiosity and ask new questions—to look at familiar ideas in new ways. They also remind me of the value of laughter and joy in creating a community of learners. We often take on serious material in my classes, but being able to find lightness in community together makes the work worth it.
What led you to the professional track?
During my graduate studies, I found teaching to be the most rewarding part of my work, so I knew that I wanted to have a future career that emphasized work with undergraduates. After I completed my PhD, I also worked as an academic advisor, academic coach, and adjunct instructor at a few colleges. Teaching was my first love among all those positions, so when an opportunity emerged to apply to a Professional Track position at UT Austin, I jumped at the chance—and thankfully won the position.
If you had to (dared to) choose an animal for your Canvas avatar, what would it be? (Why?)
An elephant! I've been drawn to elephants since I was a child for their wisdom and beauty.
Photo Credit.
Rachel Ozanne
This caption describes the image above.
Meet Rachel Ozanne, Associate Professor of Instruction in History. She earned her Ph.D. from UT in 2013 and is a scholar of religion in American history. We recently asked her a few questions to get to know her better:
What is your favorite class to teach?
It's a tie between HIS 345J: The Coming of the Civil War and HIS 365G: Unbelief in America. These two courses are most closely tied to my PhD research, so I really have fun teaching the topics in those courses. Plus, they are smaller lecture courses, which means I usually get to know my students pretty well.
We teach our students so much. What have you learned from them?
My students inspire me to maintain my curiosity and ask new questions—to look at familiar ideas in new ways. They also remind me of the value of laughter and joy in creating a community of learners. We often take on serious material in my classes, but being able to find lightness in community together makes the work worth it.
What led you to the professional track?
During my graduate studies, I found teaching to be the most rewarding part of my work, so I knew that I wanted to have a future career that emphasized work with undergraduates. After I completed my PhD, I also worked as an academic advisor, academic coach, and adjunct instructor at a few colleges. Teaching was my first love among all those positions, so when an opportunity emerged to apply to a Professional Track position at UT Austin, I jumped at the chance—and thankfully won the position.
If you had to (dared to) choose an animal for your Canvas avatar, what would it be? (Why?)
An elephant! I've been drawn to elephants since I was a child for their wisdom and beauty.
Rachel Ozanne
Meet Rachel Ozanne, Assistant Professor of Instruction in History. She earned her Ph.D. from UT in 2013 and is a scholar of religion in American history. We recently asked her a few questions to get to know her better:
Learn More
Photo Credit.
- What is your favorite class to teach?
It's a tie between HIS 345J: The Coming of the Civil War and HIS 365G: Unbelief in America. These two courses are most closely tied to my PhD research, so I really have fun teaching the topics in those courses. Plus, they are smaller lecture courses, which means I usually get to know my students pretty well.
- We teach our students so much. What have you learned from them?
My students inspire me to maintain my curiosity and ask new questions—to look at familiar ideas in new ways. They also remind me of the value of laughter and joy in creating a community of learners. We often take on serious material in my classes, but being able to find lightness in community together makes the work worth it.
- What led you to the professional track?
During my graduate studies, I found teaching to be the most rewarding part of my work, so I knew that I wanted to have a future career that emphasized work with undergraduates. After I completed my PhD, I also worked as an academic advisor, academic coach, and adjunct instructor at a few colleges. Teaching was my first love among all those positions, so when an opportunity emerged to apply to a Professional Track position at UT Austin, I jumped at the chance—and thankfully won the position.
- If you had to (dared to) choose an animal for your Canvas avatar, what would it be? (Why?)
An elephant! I've been drawn to elephants since I was a child for their wisdom and beauty.
- Accordion 5Panel 5. Add body text in this space.
What is your favorite class to teach?
It's a tie between HIS 345J: The Coming of the Civil War and HIS 365G: Unbelief in America. These two courses are most closely tied to my PhD research, so I really have fun teaching the topics in those courses. Plus, they are smaller lecture courses, which means I usually get to know my students pretty well.
We teach our students so much. What have you learned from them?
My students inspire me to maintain my curiosity and ask new questions—to look at familiar ideas in new ways. They also remind me of the value of laughter and joy in creating a community of learners. We often take on serious material in my classes, but being able to find lightness in community together makes the work worth it.
What led you to the professional track?
During my graduate studies, I found teaching to be the most rewarding part of my work, so I knew that I wanted to have a future career that emphasized work with undergraduates. After I completed my PhD, I also worked as an academic advisor, academic coach, and adjunct instructor at a few colleges. Teaching was my first love among all those positions, so when an opportunity emerged to apply to a Professional Track position at UT Austin, I jumped at the chance—and thankfully won the position.
If you had to (dared to) choose an animal for your Canvas avatar, what would it be? (Why?)
An elephant! I've been drawn to elephants since I was a child for their wisdom and beauty.