Professor Rachel Hall retiring after over 30 years of teaching

Photo courtesy of Meredith Hart

After more than three decades of dedicated service to SUNY Geneseo, professor Rachel Hall is retiring from her full-time teaching position.

After more than three decades of dedicated service to SUNY Geneseo, esteemed English, and Creative Writing professor Rachel Hall is retiring from her full-time teaching position. Earlier this week, Hall sat down for an interview, reflecting on her career, experiences, accomplishments, and future plans. Hall, who has been an integral part of the university since 1993, has left an indelible mark on the institution, shaping the minds of many aspiring writers and editors while contributing to the literary world. 

Hall's academic path began with an MFA from Indiana University, where she was conferred the prestigious Hemingway Fellowship. Over the years, Hall was the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Chancellor's Awards, one for excellence in teaching and one for excellence in scholarship and creative writing. Her linked story collection Heirlooms, published in 2016, garnered the BkMk Press G.S. Sharat Chandra Prize in 2015— awarded by famed writer Marge Piercy.

Hall has taught a variety of classes over the years. The most enjoyable of which, she states, is Literary Editing & Publishing 426/428, which brings Geneseo students together to help produce an issue of the biannual—semesterly—SUNY literary magazine Gandy Dancer. This work has been one of the very pillars of her teaching career. Hall serves as faculty advisor to the magazine, providing students with some practical and hands-on experience in publishing. 

As Hall looked back on her Geneseo years, she recollected some of her fondest moments: being awarded the Chancellor's Awards and witnessing the success of her students. "There are so many great moments during my time here," she said. "Winning the teaching award and the Chancellor's Award for Creative Writing meant so much to me because they were both acknowledgments of the work I put into my teaching and my creative endeavors. But beyond that, I take great pride in seeing my students succeed— whether they got into fine graduate programs, secured grants, or published their first books. Those are great moments."

Despite her decision to step down, Hall is not leaving Geneseo entirely. She is participating in the school’s phased retirement program, which allows faculty to transition gradually out of full-time teaching. Next year, she will continue teaching part-time while focusing more on her creative work. “It’s time for a change,” she explained, “I’ve always admired people who embark on a different career after establishing themselves in one field, and now, I want to dedicate more time to writing my books and stories.”

Hall is currently working on a new book, a collection of short stories addressing gun violence, a subject she finds both timely and necessary. Her previously published work, Heirlooms, has been widely praised, and her stories and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies, including Bellingham Review, Crab Orchard Review, Gettysburg Review, Lilith, New Letters, and Water~Stone.

Hall made sure to mention in the interview her enthusiasm for fiction workshops and video production as courses she has helmed over the years. She acknowledged, however, the challenges of balancing teaching, writing, and family responsibilities over the years. Despite these struggles, she remained deeply committed to her students and her craft.

Looking ahead, Hall expressed her hopes for the continued growth of the English and Creative Writing department here. She reassured that Gandy Dancer would persist and that efforts were already underway to find a full-time replacement to uphold the strength of the program. “In order for the program to be as strong as it can be, it really needs robust support,” she noted.

Hall’s journey at Geneseo began with a desire to be closer to her parents, who worked at the University of Rochester, and an excitement about building the creative writing department. Over the years, she has witnessed the department flourish and played a pivotal role in its development.

As Hall enters this next chapter of her career, her legacy at Geneseo is assured. Her contributions to the literary world, dedication to student success, and love for creative writing will continue to inspire and embolden many colleagues and students for years to come.