Dr. Spiess was named Academic Director of the Public Health Program in September 2022, where she teaches introductory and advanced courses at both the bachelor's and master’s levels. In her first six years at Norwich University, Dr. Spiess developed and taught multiple courses for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, including CH 115 Chemistry of Weapons of Mass Destruction. 

 Dr. Spiess was chosen as an inaugural Fellow of the Norwich Institute for Innovation in Teaching and Learning in 2021 and served as the university's Academic Integrity Officer from 2021-2022. She has since served as Assistant Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, Assistant Dean of Learning Fundamentals, and Summer School Coordinator. In 2021, Dr. Spiess received the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award for the state of Vermont from the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and in 2022, she received the Carol A. Moore Scholarship from Vermont Women in Higher Education to complete a professional certificate in Restorative Justice at Vermont Law and Graduate School. 

 Dr. Spiess’s research spans the realms of public health, risk management, environmental toxicology, and the determinants that affect the development of human disease. She also enjoys researching how students learn and how best to support them in their academic journey. Dr. Spiess enjoys gardening and weaving in her spare time and serves on the Board of Trustees of her regional mental and behavioral health center.