Dr. Rachel A. Smith

Dr. Rachel A. Smith serves as Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, where she holds joint appointments as an investigator in the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and the Methodology Center. Her research focuses on understanding how social influences shape health behaviors and communication, particularly in the context of infectious diseases and genomics. With expertise in quantitative methods, including dyadic and social network analysis, she examines how social identities, interactions, and memberships influence health outcomes. Her work has had significant international impact, including leading PEPFAR program evaluations in Namibia and developing innovations for malaria and food security in Mozambique. As an educator, she teaches courses on persuasion, communication theory, health communication, and intercultural communication, while also leading graduate seminars in quantitative research methods and social influence. Her research has been funded by major organizations including NIH, the Gates Foundation, CDC, and USAID. She has authored over 50 scientific publications and made numerous presentations in scientific and policy forums. Her current research focuses on developing theoretical models of stigma communication and optimizing network-based health interventions, particularly examining how social approval influences health behaviors and campaign effectiveness.