How Hands-on Learning and Powerful Combinations Shaped One First-Generation Student’s Path from Passion to Purpose
Rachel Cabral transformed her academic interests into clear career goals through research, conference presentations, and published works.
BRISTOL, R.I. – Throughout her time at Roger Williams University, senior Rachel Cabral has embraced every opportunity to build a strong foundation for her future. A History major with minors in Global Communication and Public Humanities and Arts, Cabral seized upon RWU’s hands-on, interdisciplinary approach – conducting research, presenting at national conferences, and becoming a published author – experiences that shaped both her academic passions and professional aspirations.
Cabral, a first-generation college student who transferred from Boston University in 2023, was unsure of what to expect during her first semester. But through close mentorship and immersive learning opportunities, the Cranston, R.I. native quickly found direction and momentum.
One class in particular, Slavery in New England, taught by Professor of History Charlotte Carrington-Farmer, helped her see new possibilities. Through a Community Engagement Project that connected scholarship with public-facing work, Cabral began to see how history extends beyond the pages of a textbook.
“I've always been passionate about history,” Cabral said. “But that class helped me see it not just as an academic passion of mine, but as a potential career path.”
Shortly after, she declared her major.
Another class, Introduction to Communications, taught by Adjunct Professor Christopher Anderson, solidified her minor in Global Communication – and opened the door to national scholarship.
“I wrote a final paper for the class, and Professor Anderson encouraged me to submit it to the National Communication Association Conference,” she said. “It was accepted, and presenting there showed me the world of communication studies.”
Cabral credits these two professors with encouraging her to take her work beyond the classroom.
“Professors Carrington-Farmer and Anderson showed me the opportunities that were in front of me and encouraged me along,” she said. “At Roger Williams, I’m not just learning – I’m putting it into practice. Having hands-on experience in primary source research while applying to graduate school is going to help me tremendously.”
Cabral views her minor in Public Humanities and Arts as a critical complement to her other fields of study, providing an interdisciplinary perspective she sees as a powerful differentiator.
“I think it all comes together in my desire to tell the stories of marginalized communities,” she said. “An interdisciplinary background is almost like a hidden superpower – you learn how to connect with different audiences and speak in different ways.”
After attending the 2024 National Communication Association Conference in New Orleans, Cabral was eager to continue her research. She submitted a second paper, “A Gift, A Great Idea for Teaching,” to the 2025 conference in Denver.
“This paper explored face negotiation theory through celebrity scandals and apologies,” she said. “It's an intercultural theory, which is right up my alley and the kind of work I want to pursue in my career.”
Following the conference, the paper was accepted for publication in the Carolinas Communication Journal.
“I was overjoyed,” she said. “It was a really cool experience, and now I get to say I'm a published author.”
Beyond conferences and publications, Cabral serves as lead researcher on the Freedom Seeker document, a rare 19th-century manuscript discovered in Barrington, R.I., by Cindy Elder ’87, a member of RWU’s President’s Board of Advisors. The first-person account details the life of Thomas White, who escaped enslavement in Maryland and found global maritime freedom in Boston. The project has gained national attention, including coverage by Smithsonian Magazine and the Smithsonian podcast.
“I’ve been working on this project for about a year, and it’s been a whirlwind,” she said. “It’s been an incredible journey, and I'm so honored to share Thomas’s story with the world. For me, giving him his voice back is the most important part.”
Brought onto the project by Carrington-Farmer, Cabral calls the Freedom Seeker initiative her proudest accomplishment at RWU – particularly because of its public reach.
“We're going to libraries and having conversations with everyday people about the importance of history and telling it in its whole truth,” she said. “Sharing Thomas's story has meant so much to me.”
Through these experiences, Cabral said she has learned not only how to conduct research, but how to engage communities beyond academia.
“I've learned how to speak to non-academic audiences and help them care about the work we’re doing.”
As she prepares for graduation and graduate study, Cabral encourages other students to embrace opportunity – and trust the process.
“Breathe. It's gonna work out,” she said. “Don't let anxiety, fear, or imposter syndrome limit you. You will rise to the occasion with your support system and seize the opportunities you're given.”