Celeste directs the Institute for Youth Success, Education Northwest’s regional center devoted to youth development and out-of-school time. Celeste focuses her time on youth development, social emotional learning, equity, trauma-informed care, mentoring, continuous improvement and facilitation. Earlier in her career, she was executive director of Oregon Mentors, which became the Institute for Youth Success and merged with Education Northwest. She also ran pediatric oncology camps in Montana and worked in fundraising at a national breast cancer organization. Celeste studied education and city planning at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Ladder to Leadership Program and a Positive Discipline parent educator.

Celeste is the proud mama of a little guy that keeps her on her toes. She is a fan of kayaking, theater and travel. She sits on the board of several Oregon-based nonprofit organizations and is the chair of Oregon’s Youth Development Council.