Falcon forever: From first-gen student to global innovator
How Dr. Rachelle Kristof Hippler ’90, ’96, ’17 turned her BGSU foundation into a career of international computing leadership, student-focused service and life-changing global engagement.
Dr. Rachelle Kristof Hippler is a full professor of software engineering at Baldwin Wallace University, where she coordinates the software engineering major, founded the User Experience Research (UXr) Lab and leads the Computing in Guatemala study-abroad program. Before joining BW, she served as a senior lecturer in computer science at BGSU and began her career as an IT management consultant with Ernst & Young.
She holds an doctorate in leadership and policy studies, a master’s in computer science with a software engineering specialization and bachelor’s in mathematics education from BGSU.
Q: What’s your favorite Falcon tradition?
A: Homecoming will always be my favorite Falcon tradition. It took me a while to realize it, but every time I return to campus – whether I recognize anyone or not – I feel the same sense of belonging I felt as a student. BGSU is the place that helped shape both my identity and my future. When I come back, it’s not just a visit. It truly feels like coming home.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at BGSU?
A: As a first-generation college student, earning my degree stands out as one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Walking across the Commencement stage was more than a ceremony – it was stepping into a new world of opportunity. I worked three jobs, studied late into the night and leaned on faculty who believed in me.
Later, as a graduate student and then a faculty member at BGSU Firelands, I relived that moment each time I watched my students cross the stage. I saw pieces of my own experience in theirs – the challenges, the resilience, the triumph. Today, my BGSU regalia hangs in my office as a visible reminder to myself and to my students that with determination and support, anything is possible.
Q: How did BGSU shape your career path and personal journey?
A: My entire professional journey can be traced back to BGSU. The foundation I built here – academically, personally and professionally – has guided me for four decades. My studies in computer science and leadership opened doors I never imagined, including the opportunity to create programs that unite technology, service and global engagement.
One of the most meaningful is the Computing in Guatemala program, a multi-year, multi-phase international capstone experience I helped establish at Baldwin Wallace University. Since 2019, our student–faculty teams have partnered with Mission Guatemala, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health, education and nutrition in underserved communities. Together, we’ve developed, deployed and maintained a custom electronic medical records system for their clinic.
Every other year, I travel with students to Guatemala to work directly with local medical staff, provide training and gather new requirements – experiences that are life-changing for them, and for me. The program reflects the values BGSU instilled in me: service, leadership and the belief that education can transform lives.
Today, my work also takes me around the world through ACM’s Global Computing Education Conference (CompEd), where I help countries build computer science education communities and strengthen their commitment to improving computing education. That global mission began with the spark BGSU ignited in me.
Q: How has staying connected to the BGSU alumni community benefitted you?
A: Staying connected to BGSU has deepened my pride and strengthened my sense of belonging. Every visit back to campus and every conversation with fellow alumni reminds me that the BGSU community is lifelong. It continues to inspire me, no matter where my work takes me around the world.
Updated: 12/11/2025 04:36PM