About Rachel
Rachel Kowert, Ph.D is a research psychologist, award winning author, and globally recognized leader facilitating global policy and product development with non-profit, governmental, and non-governmental agencies for more than 15 years through data-driven research focused on mental health and trust and safety in digital games. She has spoken about her work to thousands of people across the globe, including the United Nations and the United States Congress. She has published a variety of books and scientific articles relating to the psychology of games and, more recently, the relationship between games and mental health specifically.
Rachel is also the founder of Psychgeist®, a multimedia content production studio for the science of games and pop culture.
Career Highlights
- Internationally-recognized subject matter expert for mental health and games, including topics relating to addiction, violence, and parenting in the digital age
- Groundbreaking the field of games and extremism as the PI on the first project examining this intersection funded by the Department of Homeland Security
- Internationally recognized research portfolio, 100+ scientific publications in outlets such as Frontiers in Psychology and Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
- Prominent media figure, 100+ appearances across national and international media outlets including NPR, CBC, New York Times, Wired Magazine, and The Atlantic
- Invited speaker at events hosted by the United Nations, US State Department, and US Congress about mental health and trust and safety challenges in gaming spaces
- Founded Psychgeist®, a multimedia content production studio for the science of games and pop culture
As Seen In
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- Contributed to strategy, development, and execution of a research portfolio of more than $4M, including projects funded by Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action and the Canadian Resiliency Fund
- Established the research department at Take This and served as its first Research Director, overseeing $1M research portfolio over five years
- Influential voice on issues relating to trust and safety and digital technology, consulting with policy stakeholders on emerging regulatory issues, including members of the United States Congress, OFCOM, and Public Safety Canada.
- Worked closely with legal, product, and executive teams, to design and deliver collaborative projects across public, private, and government organizations. Partners have included Allianz, Nielsen, and the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).
- 10+ years experience serving private and public sector advisory committees and boards, including United Nations Global Mental Health Task Force, GIFCT, and Extremism in Games Research Network (EGRN)
Current Projects
- Developing educational and support resources for digital leadership in gaming spaces. This work includes collaboration with Discord, Shine a Light Gaming, and Games for Change, among others.
- Curating and editing The Psychgiest of Pop Culture (Play Story Press). The series highlights iconic pop culture content from television, film, literature and video games. For the current releases, see here.
- I am currently open to new freelance projects for Summer/Fall 2026 (see details below).
Side Projects
…because we all need side projects?
Tales from Cloud Canyon
Tales from Cloud Canyon is a collection of short, rhyming stories designed for children aged 3 to 8+ (but we all know there are no real age limit for storytime!), the stories in this collection focus on self-reliance and real-life problem-solving rather than fairy tale clichés or superpowers.