Rachel Raimist is an American episodic television director.
Early life and education Raimist was born and raised in Middletown, New York in Orange County. She attended Middletown High School where at the urging of teacher Fred Isseks, she made the documentary Garbage, Gangsters and Greed.
The feature documentary Middletown follows Isseks and his students, including Raimist, and is directed by Emmy and Sundance-winning filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine. Middletown premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. This film was renamed as Teenage Wasteland and streams on Netflix on September 4, 2026.
Raimist attended the UCLA School of Film and Television where she earned a bachelor's degree in film and television production and a MFA in directing. Raimist returned to graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis in 2002. She earned a Master of Arts in women's studies and a Ph.D. in feminist studies with a minor in American studies in 2010.
In 2009, the Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis named The Rachel Raimist Feminist Media Center in her honor, for her work building gender infused gender curriculum, community events, teaching and mentorship of students to develop as digital storytellers and feminist filmmakers.
Career Raimist has directed numerous hours of television, with credits in drama, action, sci-fi, musicals and comedy. In 2026, Raimist was appointed to a full professorship as the Morgan Woodward Endowed Distinguished Professor of Film at the University of Texas, Arlington.
Television credits +YearShowEpisode TitleRole2018Queen SugarYour Passages Have Been PaidDirector2019GreenleafDid I Lose YouDirector2019-2021Roswell, New MexicoSay It Ain't So; Killing Me Softly With His Song; Bittersweet SymphonyDirector2019-2020Nancy DrewThe Secret of the Solitary ScribeDirector2021The Republic of SarahFrom Simple Sources; Pledge AllegianceDirector2021Diary of a Future PresidentSwing StateDirector2021The Sex Lives of College GirlsThat Comment ThoDirector2021Wu-Tang: An American SagaSaturday NiteDirector2021-2023Fantasy IslandDia de los Vivos; Paymer vs. PaymerDirector2021The Big LeapNothing but Money ShotsDirector20214400If You Love SomethingDirector2021QueensBarsDirector2022Wild LifePilotDirector and EP2022-2023CSI: Las VegasWhen the Dust SettlesDirector2023Sex/LifeThe Weakness in MeDirector2023Up HereBaggageDirector2024The Spiderwick ChroniclesA Midsummer's DaydreamDirector2024Bel-AirGimme a BreakDirector2024ElsbethGold, Frankincense & MurderDirector
Leadership Raimist is active in leadership at the Directors Guild of America where she was the first appointed to co-chair the Disability Committee and the first woman appointed to Co-chair The Special Projects Committee.
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