He began his study of philosophy at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1998. Because of his interest in Asian and comparative philosophy, he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in comparative philosophy with a specialization in ethics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. McRae joined the Classics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies department at Westminster College in the fall of 2006.