About
Scholar · Artist · Educator
Rachel uses science to tell the story of human harmonics: how artistic, aesthetic, and affective experiences bring us into resonance within ourselves, between people, and among groups.
Sitting at the intersections: she earned degrees in Biobehavioral Health (BS), Music Composition (BM), and Social Policy (MS). Her experience and expertise span the areas of health policy and systems research, science translation and communications, artificial intelligence (AI), patient/public engagement, and evidence-based case-making for integrative arts & humanities programming.
Paralleling her professional and academic career: she maintains a consulting practice, building support for arts- and humanities-driven organizations through strategic planning and impact storytelling. She’s also a practicing musician, multimedia artist, and podcast producer.
Through all of her work: she curates programs, translates insights, and communicates stories to build connection and collective impact across disciplines or lines of difference.
Experience
Current
Adjunct Faculty Instructor
Democracy & Governance Program: teaching tangible engagement and creative problem-solving strategies to enhance the impact of future civic, social, and mission-minded leaders
Integrative Arts Program: orienting non-arts majors to creative disciplines (e.g., art, music, theatre, photography) and helping them explore the creative process – and its intersections with other fields
Supporting programs exploring novel applications of AI technologies to advance health & medicine, and to build students’ and professionals’ AI literacy
Former
Director
AcademyHealth
Research and programmatic senior leadership, to support the leading national association for health services research (HSR) professionals
Focus Areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy and use in health, science translation, and strategic engagement (e.g., patients, public, partners)
Former
Fulbright Public Policy Fellow & Specialist
Ministry of Health & Public Hygiene (Côte d’Ivoire)
International professional fellowship funded by the U.S. Department of State + expert advising appointment (with the Ministry’s Strategy Directorate) in health systems strategy and cultural diplomacy
ONGOING
CONSULTANT / ADVISOR – ROLES VARY
Various Partners & Clients
Independent strategy & skills-based consulting for multiple clients (e.g., Operation RESPECT, UN Women, Johnson & Johnson’s TEDxJNJ, JustRojgar, Poverty Resolutions, Think Local First DC, The Future of Music Coalition, Street Sense Media, Music to Life, NPR-affiliate station WDIY)
ONGOING
OTHER ROLES & AFFILIATIONS
Music to Life
Juried Artist “Changemaker“
Street Sense Media
Podcast Host & Producer, Artist-in-Residence
The Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity (SfNC)
Collaborating Artist Member
Education
Social Policy
University of Pennsylvania
Biobehavioral Health
Civic & Community Engagement)
Penn State Schreyer Honors College
Music Composition
Penn State Schreyer Honors College
Social Impact Strategy | University of Pennsylvania
Environmental Health & Security | Georgetown University
Diplomatie et Sante (Global Health Diplomacy) | IHEID, Geneva Graduate Institute for International Development
Interested in collaboration, curated events, or speaking engagements? Reach out to start conversation.
