His education includes BAs in English and French from Harding University, an MA in English literature from the University of California, Riverside and a PhD in medieval literature from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) with an emphasis on medieval pedagogies and educational practice. In the spring of 2007, Rankin and a team of academics began work on the initiative that became "ACU Connected," ACU's ground-breaking iPhone and iPod touch-based mobile-learning initiative. Working closely with students, faculty, and technologists, the team attained broad university buy-in for the program using a "day-in-the-life" video vision statement, "Connected," and he continues to work on projects designed to help people envision and implement new learning technologies.