CHAMPAIGN– The City of Champaign is continuing to navigate changes in leadership with the appointment of a new Deputy City Manager. The move comes after the promotion of the current deputy manager Joan Walls to the position of City Manager.
Nancy Rabel has more than 25 years of combined municipal administration and experience serving as an attorney for both public and private entities, according to a news release from the city. She has served Champaign since 2021. Rabel has a background managing issues related to human resources, labor, employment, and municipal law and prior experience serving as a city administrator.
She currently serves as the city’s Assistant Director of Human Resources. Prior to that, Rabel also served as the Assistant City Attorney.
“Nancy’s extensive public administration and wide-ranging legal experience made her the clear choice to serve as Champaign’s next Deputy City Manager,” Walls said in a statement. “She has consistently demonstrated her leadership skills by steadily advancing through positions with increasing levels of responsibility and a demonstrated passion for public service.”
Rabel said in a statement that she is honored to serve as the next Deputy City Manager.
“Champaign has a long history of employing exceptionally strong and caring leaders and I look forward to building upon that legacy,” she added.
“I’m excited to take on this opportunity to work with the City Manager, the Mayor and Council, and City staff in this new position and look forward to continuing to have a meaningful impact on the lives of Champaign’s residents.”
Rabel holds a Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and an Associate of Arts degree from Spoon River College in Canton.She will officially start the position on December 16.