Maile Spenser, HR Generalist

I recently joined the College of Engineering and Applied Science as an HR generalist in the Dean's Office. I grew up primarily in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, though I spent part of my early childhood in Japan while my father served in the Air Force. 

Fun fact: I was actually born in Montana (of all places). Shortly after I was born, we moved to Japan, and my dad eventually retired in Hawaiʻi, where they still reside. Looking back, it really ended up being the best of both worlds for my family with my mom being from Okinawa and my dad from Maui.  

I have truly enjoyed the onboarding experience with the college and have received such a warm welcome from all. I admire how involved everyone is within the CU Engineering community and am inspired by the supportive and collaborative atmosphere across all departments and programs. It has been a blast participating in all of the fun events thus far, such as the fall tree tour and pumpkin carving contest. 

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, cooking and spending quality time with friends and family. Some ordinary moments in my life that bring me joy are simple mornings with coffee and long walks with our dogs. 

One of the best pieces of advice I have received is to continue investing in yourself, both in your personal and professional growth. It is incredibly important to continue your learning and development, continue building your relationships, and continue taking care of your mental health and well-being. 

I moved to Colorado last March with my boyfriend, Shane, and our two dogs, Leila and Koda. We have loved exploring more of the state every chance that we can get. I look forward to connecting and working with everyone in the CU Engineering community!