Rachel Duke, Ph.D.

Rachel C. S. Duke serves as the Research & Engagement Program Director for Florida State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives, where she leads public-facing research services, instruction, outreach, and community engagement initiatives across the division. Prior to this role, she served as FSU’s Rare Books Librarian, overseeing rare book collections, instruction, and research support. Rachel earned her Ph.D. in Medieval Literature with a minor in History of Text Technologies from Florida State University, and her scholarly interests include medieval manuscripts, book history, archival pedagogy, and experiential learning with primary sources. Her work and presentations frequently explore how students engage emotionally and intellectually with archival materials, especially within special collections instruction environments.