Rachel Clemens

Rachel Clemens serves as Adjunct Faculty at the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while concurrently leading expansion efforts as Program Manager for Senior PharmAssist (SPA), a Durham-based non-profit serving older adults across North Carolina.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Information Science from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• MLS from Texas Woman's University
• BA from Concord University

Her research pioneers the intersection of human information behavior and crisis contexts, specifically examining how shame and social stigma obstruct information-seeking during personal emergencies. Through rigorous qualitative methodologies, she investigates perception, evaluation, and trust mechanisms in information engagement, with emphasis on vulnerable populations requiring informed decision-making support. Her work bridges theoretical information science with real-world crisis response frameworks.

Rachel's scholarly excellence has been recognized through:

• UNC Graduate School Dissertation Research Fellowship
• Deborah Barreau Award for Teaching Excellence (SILS)
• ASIS&T Elfreda A. Chatman Research Proposal Award

Her community engagement extends beyond academia through co-ownership of a Pittsboro clay studio offering wheel-throwing and hand-building instruction, demonstrating holistic commitment to creative expression and community development. Current initiatives at SPA integrate racial equity, motivational interviewing, and continuity of care principles into medication assistance services for elderly populations.