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Nick Vera, B.A., MLIS

User Experience and Education Strategist

抖阴pro Libraries
Region 2, Network of the National Library of Medicine
抖阴pro Main Library 4th Floor, Room 415J
verani@musc.edu | 843-792-0265

Nick Vera is the User Experience and Education Strategist for Region 2 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) at the Medical University of South Carolina (抖阴pro). In this role, Nick develops and delivers services in key areas, including outreach, education, health literacy, and consumer health. He brings extensive experience as a research assistant at the University of South Carolina iSchool, working on grant-funded projects focused on LGBTQIA+ health in South Carolina, where he is also completing his dissertation in information science.

Nick's research interests center on how social media influences the sexual health information-seeking behaviors of young adults. His work bridges a critical gap between traditional experts, such as health practitioners and educators - who may not always provide accurate, relevant, and comprehensive sexual health information to youth - and social media, which supports health information needs but can lack essential context and accuracy. Nick's research aims to connect library and information science (LIS) with public health to develop strategies that help young adults navigate the digital landscape and make informed decisions about their sexual health.

Education

  • Certificate of Graduate Study, Health Communication, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (2020)
  • MLIS, Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (2018)
  • BA, English, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (2016)

Selected Publications

  • Vera, A. N., Kitzie, V. L., & Wagner, T. L. (2023). Queer mediated practices as a method to center and sustain critical health and media literacies. The International Journal of Critical Media Literacy, 3(2), 160-177.
  • Kitzie, V. L., Vera, A. N., Lookingbill, V., & Wagner, T. L. (2023). "What is a wave but 1000 drops working together?": The role of public libraries in addressing health information disparities for LGBTQIA+ communities. Journal of Documentation, 80(2), 533-551.
  • Kitzie, V. L., Wagner, T. L., Lookingbill, V., & Vera, N. (2022). Advancing information practices theoretical discourses centered on marginality, community, and embodiment: Learning from the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 73(4), 494-510. [Impact factor = 3.275 (2021), Top-tier LIS journal]
  • Freeburg, D. & Vera, A. N. (2021). "The ticket you get punched": The divide between academic and public librarianship and the MLIS. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 62(1), 17-33.
  • Vera, A.N., Wagner, T.L., & Kitzie, V. (2020). "When it's time to come together, we come together": Reconceptualizing theories of self-efficacy for health information practices within LGBTQIA+ communities. In B.S. Jean, G. Jindal, Y. Liao, and P.T. Jaeger (Eds.) Roles and Responsibilities of Libraries in Increasing Consumer Health Literacy and Reducing Health Disparities (Advances in Librarianship, Vol. 47), Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 263-282.
  • Kitzie, V., Vera, A.N., & Lookingbill V. (2024). Examining public library service to LGBTQIA+ communities for health information: Project results and resources. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina.

Selected Presentations

  • Kitzie, V. L., Vera, A. N., Vera, V., & Wagner, T. L. (2023, October 27-31). "What is a wave but 1000 drops working together?": The role of public libraries in addressing health information disparities for LGBTQIA+ communities. Paper presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), London, England. [2nd Place Best Long Paper; SIG-HLTH Best Health-Related Paper]
  • Kitzie, V., Wagner, T., Francis, D., Vera, A. N., & Bowman, J. D. (2022, October 24-27). Combatting health information injustices for community-based health promotion: A curricular outline. Paper presented at the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) 2022 Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Lookingbill, V., Vera, A.N., Wagner, T.L., & Kitzie, V. (2021, March 28-31). "We can be our best alliance": Resilient health information practices of LGBTQIA+ individuals as buffering response to minority stress. Paper presented at iConference 2021 (Conference held online due to COVID-19).
  • Kitzie, V., Wagner, T.L., & Vera, A.N. (2021, October 23-28). "When someone sees me, I am nothing of the norm": Examining the discursive role power plays in shaping LGBTQ+ health information practices. Paper presented at the 2021 ASIS&T Annual Conference (Conference held online due to COVID-19).
  • Kitzie, V., Wagner, T.L., & Vera, N. (2020, March 23-25). "In the beginning, it was little whispers...now, we're almost a roar": Conceptualizing a model for community and self in LGBTQ+ health information practices. Paper presented at the 2020 iConference (Conference held online due to COVID-19).