By Fatima Salinas

Rachel Spengler (BA ’10) knows that some of her best work may be measured by the questions she doesn’t receive.

As faculty affairs specialist in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) dean’s office, Spengler helps departments navigate processes throughout the faculty employment lifecycle: onboarding, reviews, promotion, and retirement. When a new review or promotion cycle begins smoothly with departments equipped to move forward, she sees that as a sign of success.

“When a new promotion cycle or faculty review season begins without an influx of questions about policies or procedures, I know we’ve done our job well,” Spengler said. “It means we anticipated departments’ needs and provided clear information and resources at the right time.”

That behind-the-scenes preparation extends across a college Spengler says she didn’t fully appreciate the size of until she joined its staff nearly three years ago. She coordinates the departmental executive officer selection and evaluation processes and supports faculty funding and leadership programs. She also helps organize college activities including commencement, the annual celebration for newly promoted faculty, and the events of CLAS Welcome Week.

The variety suits Spengler, an Iowa City native and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences alumna who earned a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology in 2010 and worked in corporate learning and development before coming to the University of Iowa.

“I enjoy learning how different departments work and finding ways to make complex processes clearer and more manageable,” she said. “Although people’s roles and needs vary, everyone wants to feel heard and supported. Building those relationships is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.”

Those connections have also given Spengler a wider view of the college she once experienced as a student. She regularly encounters faculty research, creative work, and academic programs that are new to her. Reviewing faculty promotion records and participating in commencement offer two particularly meaningful perspectives on that work.

“Witnessing faculty and student success makes my work especially fulfilling,” she said.

Spengler’s interest in creating connections carries into other parts of her life. She has taken on leadership roles with the CLAS Wellness Ambassadors and teaches group fitness classes, where she thinks intentionally about making spaces welcoming for people with different personalities and comfort levels.

An introvert herself, Spengler recharges with quieter pursuits: spending time outdoors, reading, baking, and, ideally, fitting in a restorative nap. That balance also shapes how she approaches bringing people together.

“Connection and community are foundational to fulfilling work for me,” she said. “If an initiative can boost morale, support well-being, or help people feel more connected, I’m all in.”