assistant professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Education: Ph.D. (information studies), Drexel University; M.A. (information resources and library science), University of Arizona; B.S. (radio-television-film), B.A. (English), University of Texas at Austin
Course teaching: LIS 590 YSL (Youth Services Community Engagement)
Research interests: Her research focuses on how young people engage with technology and considers their social relationships and values as important factors in their technology use. She also is interested in developing technologies, strategies and techniques to better support teens’ information access and use.
“Rachel is a wonderful addition to our top-ranked faculty in youth services,” said Allen Renear, the dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. “She is bringing new approaches to understanding youths’ experiences with digital spaces and media, and in particular, how they transition between different modes of online communication. We are delighted that she is joining us.”
Before embarking on her doctoral studies, Magee served as a teen and reference services librarian at the County of Los Angeles Public Library for three years. Magee is looking forward to bringing that experience to the classroom. “I’m very excited to teach people who will be going out into the field and working directly with youth, drawing from my own experiences as a teen services librarian and my research,” she said.
Why Illinois? “There were several reasons I pursued coming to the University of Illinois and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science,” Magee said. “I was deeply impressed with the students, faculty and staff here. People here are working on important problems in an interdisciplinary fashion, and the school is at the forefront of innovative research and education. I also was excited to join a community that has long recognized the importance of supporting and advocating for youth – this is such a big part of my work, and I am thrilled to be around others with the same priority.”