Hi! I’m Rachael Rezek
My approach is shaped by years of watching what actually draws people in, what keeps them listening, and what makes a program feel genuinely worth their time.
I’ve spent my career working with public audiences, and I care deeply about how history and culture are shared with people who come simply because they’re curious.
My academic background is in Archaeology and Classics, a path that grew out of a lifelong fascination with the ancient world. In college, I interned at the Smithsonian and took part in archaeological fieldwork in Morocco and the US, experiences that deepened my interest in material culture and the long afterlives of past civilizations. While I loved the work, I eventually realized I was most drawn not just to the past itself, but to helping others make sense of it.
After a decade working in marketing and communications, I returned to Illinois and earned a Master of Library and Information Science. For fifteen years, I worked as a public librarian, teaching adult classes, planning and supervising programs, and creating talks for general audiences. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for how people learn outside of academic settings, and how important it is to present complex ideas clearly, thoughtfully, and with care.
Today, my lectures reflect that combined background. They are carefully researched and grounded in scholarship, but always designed with real audiences in mind. I focus on choosing the right moments, telling them well, and drawing connections between past and present that feel meaningful rather than overwhelming.
Above all, I aim to offer talks that people enjoy, remember, and talk about afterward, leaving hosts confident they offered a program their audience was truly glad to attend.
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