Calendar of Events

Jessica Peel-Austin

Curator of Museum Collections

Jessica joined Brucemore’s staff in fall 2013. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Iowa with her bachelor’s degree in history and public history. In 2011, she completed her master’s degree in history at the University of Iowa. Jessica has worked at several museums and research institutions including the Cedar Falls Historical Society, Hometown Perry, Living History Farms, the Johnson County Historical Society, and the Office of the State Archaeologist. She has served two terms on the Iowa Museum Association’s Board of Directors. Jessica is a native Iowan and grew up in Perry. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, singing, attending concerts, reading, and spending time with her two cats and her dog, Ruby.

Rachel Pottfoff

Facilities Manager

Rachel Potthoff, Facilities Manager, started at Brucemore May 20, 2020. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2010 with a BS in Construction Engineering. She has prior experience in project management for a general contractor and production and stage management for a non-profit theatre organization and as an independent contractor. Since joining the staff at Brucemore, she has been responsible for managing contractor dependent projects on buildings and structures, including three phases of the Mansion Envelope Restoration Project, the Mansion Geothermal Retrofit HVAC Project, and building related derecho recovery. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, performing small improvements around her home, and practicing drums. Having initially heard about Brucemore through the summer theatre programs offered in the amphitheater, she grew to love the estate and the organization, and was grateful for the opportunity to apply for a position to help preserve the physical resources of the site.