Associate Dean for Experiential Learning Rachel Hosler, Ed.D., has been named this year’s Terrance J. Portis Mentor of the Year Award Recipient. Nominated by the Walsh senior class, the Mentor of the Year is honored annually for outstanding guidance, education outside the classroom and significant contributions to the college experience.
Dr. Rachel Hosler has nearly 20 years of extensive knowledge and involvement in student development and the creation of experiential learning programs. In 2016, she was instrumental in the design and launch of Walsh University’s Office of Experiential Learning with the goal to reinforce student learning by applying education in real-world settings to better prepare students for post-graduation employment.
Under the direction of Dr. Hosler, the offices of Global Learning, Service-Learning and the Career Readiness and Development Center coordinate their efforts for a more strategic alignment of resources and mission. These programs are recognized as ‘high impact’ areas because they embed work experiences into the curriculum through internships, practicum experiences, field-work, research, service learning and global trips. Dr. Hosler is devoted to creating interdisciplinary learning experiences where Walsh students from all majors work together to solve complicated problems in civic society.
New offerings under Dr. Hosler’s leadership as Associate Dean include academic programs in Latin America, a Peace Corps prep program, a Leaders in Social Justice program, and a scholars learning community for underrepresented students.
“Dr. Hosler has positively affected my experience at Walsh in countless ways. She has helped to support me as a student who is uncertain of her next steps after college. She has always been willing to lend a listening ear and share advice on searching for a career and how to keep my classes at Walsh and my job applications for after graduation in perspective. She has made college and the steps for life after college easier for me to navigate.”
Dr. Hosler joined the Walsh community professionally in 2006 as Associate Director of Residence Life. She was appointed the Director of Global Learning in 2012, a position she held until 2016. In this role, she oversaw the planning and execution of Walsh’s Global Learning programs and led program development for the global learning office. Under her guidance, the Office of Global Learning added 20 new programs and doubled the number of Walsh students studying abroad each year in more than 13 countries.
She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling & Human Development from Walsh. In 2020, she earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University of Saint Louis, further extending her knowledge of educational practice and building content that engages students in active learning.
Dr. Hosler served as a regional leader with the NAFSA: Association of International Educators for six years. This is the second time she has been recognized as the Mentor of the Year, having earned the honor previously by the Class of 2012. She was named a Crain’s Cleveland Business Magazine 2019 Notable Women of the Year and was honored as a member of the 2019 class of yStark! Twenty Under 40 professional leaders.
In 2012, Walsh University dedicated the Mentor of the Year Award in Memory of Recipient Terrance Portis. A 2008 Walsh graduate, Portis passed away on January 25, 2012 at age 27. He had served as the manager of Walsh's Academic Resource Center and as one of the advisors for the Black Student Union.
