Rachel M. McCleary is a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard University's Center for International Development and a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

Her research focuses on the political economy of religion, through which she conducts cross-country studies on religion, religious beliefs, and aspects of economic development. At present, she is researching trends in the field of U.S. international relief and development from 1939 to 2005. In addition, Rachel is conducting a multi-year project on the relationship between political tolerance and religious tolerance.

Rachel Holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Chicago, a Master of Theological Studies from Emory University, and a B.A. from Indiana University.