Getting to know: RMSLA President-Elect Rachel Bates Wilfahrt

Where do you live?

Centennial, CO

Where do you work, and what’s your title?

I’m a Research Analyst for the University of Denver’s Advancement office. That means I perform research and analysis to assess capacity and inclination for philanthropic giving.

What’s the mission of your organization?

“The mission of the University of Denver is to promote learning by engaging with students in advancing scholarly inquiry, cultivating critical and creative thought and generating knowledge. Our active partnerships with local and global communities contribute to a sustainable common good.”

When did you become an SLA/RMSLA member?

I became a member of both SLA and RMSLA in October 2008, during my first quarter in DU’s Library and Information Science program.

What drew you into an information career?

I’ve always been endlessly curious, and because of that, I decided to get my BA in sociology. I felt like that gave me a framework for understanding social processes and structure and taught me how to think broadly and from an industry-agnostic standpoint. I’m also incredibly organized, and one night my old roommate told me that he thought I could combine those two pieces and become a librarian. After staring at him for a while, I decided to look into it and found this whole non-traditional side of the industry that I felt would be a natural fit and allow me to get paid to explore my curiosity.

What’s the best thing about being an information professional?

The best thing about being an information professional is the capacity to apply our mad information skills in practically any setting we choose. And by doing so, we get to continually learn about whatever industry or subject we’re interested in, while also providing value to our employer or client. By thinking broadly about applications of our skills, there’s really no limit to where and how we can work.

What’s the next great thing you want to learn?

My next objective (after February 15, the deadline for my last DU course), is to concentrate on the actual process of starting an IIP business. To do so, I’ll need to spend a lot of time on marketing and identifying my target client base. Essentially, I need to build a framework for how I want to apply my information skills moving forward.

Are you a member of any other professional associations?

AIIP (Association of Independent Information Professionals); APRA (Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement); and CPRA (Colorado Professional Researchers for Advancement).

What do you love to do in your non-work time?

I have an 8 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Jack, who demands a walk every morning and some time to play every evening. I also love to read and am about to finish Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84.

Tell us something about yourself that we’d never think to ask.

I once memorized Pi to 100 digits and the entire Periodic Table of Elements.

What’s your favorite thing about SLA and/or the Rocky Mountain Chapter?

SLA more broadly is wonderful because there’s really a place for everyone, no matter what type of information work you do. For example, I’m a member of the Leadership & Management, Pharmaceutical & Health Technology, and Competitive Intelligence divisions, and each one has people doing much different, but very interesting things. RMSLA specifically is awesome due to the amazing talent we have here; it’s really a collective brain trust that I feel lucky to be part of.