Hannah Rush

Digital Communications and Content Manager

Hannah Rush supports NIET's communications efforts as digital communications and content manager. In this role, she contributes to the organization's internal and external outreach products, including training materials, social media, newsletters, and various other digital and print content.

Prior to joining the NIET team in January 2020, Hannah served as a communications specialist at the Tennessee Department of Education for three years. While working at the state department of education, Hannah earned her Master of Arts in English from Belmont University in Nashville; she also holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Hannah is a proud graduate of Tennessee K-12 public schools and comes from a family full of educators – from teachers to higher education personnel – who inspire her to work toward increasing educational opportunities for all students.

Hannah Rush

Who is your favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher was Mr. Inman at Franklin High School; he taught my senior year English class. I moved to town right before my senior year in high school, which was tough for many reasons, and Mr. Inman's class was the perfect bookend to my days, as I had it last period all year. He taught me how to read well; introduced me to the classic book “Crime and Punishment,” which I still consider a favorite novel today; and encouraged every one of his students with a gentle but expectant demeanor on a daily basis. He pushed all of his students to challenge themselves, all while soaking in the beauty of well-told stories.

What was your favorite subject in school and why?

It comes as no surprise that English was my absolute favorite subject in school. Words have so much power, and there is truly nothing better than escaping to another world within the pages of a book. It's also amazing to see how fiction can reveal so much about reality, and further, how it can inform reality and the future. I love that I get to work with words on a daily basis through my role at NIET, and I hope to never stop reading or writing.

What do you do in your free time?

I've recently taken up cooking and baking, and I got to try out over 100 new recipes last year (some more successful than others). I also love exploring nature and going for hikes with my husband and our two dogs, Nellie and Bigby.