Rachel Spencer

Vice President of Strategic Communications

Rachel’s expertise in strategic planning, qualitative research, brand messaging, public relations, and crisis communications has proven integral to AccessU for over 16 years. She began her career at a health and government-focused PR agency in Washington, DC, where she mastered the art of media relations. She later became the primary liaison for media at the American Diabetes Association and helped address the needs of patients with diabetes affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Rachel is a member of the Leadership Roanoke Valley Class of 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Communications. Rachel’s client roster includes Virginia Community College System, Ethero Truck + Energy, Emory Healthcare, Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM), and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.

Career sans advertising:

HR or meteorology. The latter may or may not have been influenced by Helen Hunt in Twister.