Tucson Festival of Books

Rachel Kolb (she/her)



Josephine Sittenfeld

Rachel Kolb is a writer whose work explores communication, language, and disability as central components of human experience. A graduate of Stanford University, she was the first signing deaf Rhodes Scholar at Oxford before receiving her Ph.D. in English literature from Emory University and completing a junior fellowship in the Society of Fellows at Harvard University. Kolb has been published in The New York Times and the Atlantic. "Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice" is her first book.

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Awards: Rhodes scholarship (and we'll see if any book-related awards follow!)

Communities: Person with a Disability


Scheduled events:
Bias and Inequity in Medicine
Through a rich mix of personal narrative and professional insight, authors Rachel Kolb, Jonathan Gleason and Dr. Melody Glenn will untangle the assumptions modern medicine makes about people with disabilities and illnesses. How can we see and deal with these challenges?

Student Union Santa Rita (Seats 110)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Jonathan Gleason, Melody Glenn, Rachel Kolb
Moderator: Evan Davies
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Joi and Bianca Bowen, Roberta and Bill Witchger
Noise, Quiet and Well-Being
Most of us are exposed to noise throughout the day, often to the detriment of our well-being. What ways of experiencing the world can we learn from deaf and hard of hearing people? How can we reduce noise in our lives? Join Chris Berdik and Rachel Kolb as they discuss both noise and quiet.

Student Union Sabino (Seats 87)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Chris Berdik, Rachel Kolb
Moderator: Lynne Lamberg
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Joan and Adrian Van Loozenoord

Book:
Articulate
A Deaf Memoir of Voice
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
HarperCollins Publishers
September 2025
ISBN 9780063375185
304 pages
Buy now