The Faculty of Applied Social Studies mourns the loss of Christine Spiegel, who passed away on August 3, 2025 at the age of 74. The long-time lecturer was closely associated with the faculty during and after her employment.
Christine Spiegel was a lecturer for special tasks in the Faculty of Applied Social Studies from April 1986 until her retirement in September 2013. She initially worked at what was then Hagen University of Applied Sciences and Arts and, after its closure in 1989, at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts in the (later) Faculty of Applied Social Studies.
Christine Spiegel left visible traces
Born in 1950 in Großräschen, after training as a wholesale clerk, she studied social work at the Protestant University in Bochum from 1972 and later graduated in education with a focus on adult education and extracurricular youth education at Dortmund Technical University. In practice, she worked as a state-approved social worker, e.g. in probationary services, company social work at Ruhrkohle AG and at the Dortmund "Pro Familia" advice center.
Christine Spiegel loved art and was particularly active in teaching in the field of media education. Her seminars and courses focused on artistic aspects in the context of social work, among other things. She left a visible mark: anyone making their way from the "Universität" S-Bahn station to the main entrance of Emil-Figge-Straße 44 would see the so-called "Nana figures" in the first floor windows from afar. Christine Spiegel also regularly organized exhibitions with students in the foyer of the building and was responsible for the faculty's photo lab, which played an essential role in design events in the days before digital photography.
Commitment to women and equality
Christine Spiegel was always characterized by a high degree of democratic and social commitment, which was also reflected in the academic self-administration. As the faculty's Equal Opportunities Officer for many years, she was represented on various committees, where she strongly advocated for women's rights and equality. In 2011, she was also elected to the Women's Advisory Board of Fachhochschule Dortmund.
Retirement by the sea
Christine Spiegel also left her mark in retirement. For example, her passion for cooking led her to create the "Butter & Bread" buffet as part of the annual "Praxis trifft Fachhochschule Dortmund" conference in 2014 and she was a guest at our big anniversary celebration "75 years of social work at the Dortmund location" in 2023.
Christine Spiegel planned her retirement by the sea many years in advance and eventually moved to Schleswig-Holstein, where she volunteered in hospice work. (Former) colleagues in the faculty are deeply touched by the news of her death. Our condolences go out to Christine Spiegel's friends and family.