How long have your worked at Buffalo State College and if applicable what other areas have you worked/positions have you served in at Buffalo State College?
I have worked for Buffalo State and the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program since May 2018. Currently, I am a member of the BSC Foundation Board, Administrative Staff Working Group, Campus House Board, Faculty and Staff of Color Committee, President’s Council on Equity & Diversity, Awards and Recognition Subcommittee, and Anti-Racist Initiative Subcommittee. I have also served on several search committees. I have worked in the capacity of administrative assistant for over 20 years for NYS.
What motivates you to provide excellent services for your colleagues, students, and supervisor?
First and foremost, my motivation comes from my spiritual heritage. I believe in following bible principles and reflecting the consideration and kindness that God has for all people. Such principles as “loving your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), “loving your enemy” (Matthew 5:44), and cultivating the fruit of God’s spirit, “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, mildness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22). These beliefs have taught me to love, see, and treat people as God and Jesus Christ does. My mother and grandmothers were instrumental in teaching and inculcating in me the type of ethics I needed to contribute to society in a positive way. I am grateful for their love and instruction. Then there is Amy McMillan, my supervisor, my mentor, my friend. On a daily basis, her fine example is inspirational. She wants the best for the students, and she wants to be the best director, biologist, colleague, leader, woman, mother, and she IS! It is easy to follow her lead. Then, the students! They come into our office with such light and hope. Their eyes are full of aspirations. Their minds and bodies are ready for the possibilities and experiences ahead of them. They inspire me! So many of them have incredibly large challenges they are managing. To see them triumph, to see their personal growth, is heartwarming. They give me such hope and it is a pleasure assisting BSC students and BSC Honors students. My colleagues (huge smile)! There are so many incredibly impressive people on campus. I have learned from so many of them and they continue to contribute to my growth. Their intelligence, grace, eloquence, dedication to education, and making a difference in the students' lives gives me impetus to follow their example as I walk my own path on campus. Sitting on committees with them, being involved in campus and community events is an honor and privilege. I also appreciate the Daily Bulletin. It keeps us well informed. I really appreciate how the campus in general promotes professional development and growth. I am proud to be a part of this diverse campus and I feel that President Conway-Turner and Provost Mayrose truly care for the well-being of the students, faculty, and staff.
What personal philosophy about working with others guides your day-to-day work?
Amy recently gave me a quote from Barbara Johnson and I feel it captures the essence of my daily philosophy. It says, “Never let the problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.” I love people and I really love that I do, because it makes it easy for me to always do my best and to be of assistance and support. I care about how the work I complete affects others, and I like to see things to completion, especially if it assists in solving a problem. As you may conclude, because of this ethic, it is a struggle for me to not give too much of myself. Currently, I am working on self-care, setting boundaries, and working within my limitations. I recognize if I am completely deprived of energy, I will be unable to give the way I want to. So, I continue to work on managing all aspects of my life in a healthy way.
What do you do when you are not working?
Most of my time is spent in spiritual activities. Weekly, I teach people bible truths, virtually. I study the bible and have a weekly bible study routine. As of late, I have been reading secular books as well. I enjoy being social, cooking, listening to music, and dancing, and I am always up for a new endeavor. I have a few side businesses that I thoroughly enjoy. I have virtual and in-home jewelry parties. I am an independent consultant for Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski. And earlier this year, I became a health coach for Optavia, a program that promotes healthy living. This endeavor has become a real passion for me. Through the program, I have several clients who I am coaching to a healthier lifestyle. There are also days I sit in my backyard, with a glass of wine, a fire, looking up at the stars as I listen to some smooth jazz.
Celestine treats every person she works with as a friend and valued colleague. For example, she shows her love and compassion with a hug (less now with Covid), a smile, a question about how you are doing, she keeps notes on your favorite drink, food, or hobby and will make sure to bring those things to a meeting or when she sees you. Our Honors students love Celestine because, among many other reasons, she listens to their stories, remembers what they tell her, and checks up on them when they are in pain or struggling. She volunteers her time and takes care of everyone. I can't count the number of Acts of Kindness she has performed or the number of people who have received them. It is an integral part of the fabric of Celestine.
There is no one on campus more positive, cheerful, and respectful. Celestine embodies diversity and inclusion by being a force of goodness wherever she is. In terms of respectfulness, she has embraced bringing this quality to work every day and helping to encourage and teach this to our students. For example, we had a student who tended to talk over others and who wasn't aware of some disrespectful social behaviors. Celestine took this student under her wing and, in the most pleasant, cheerful, but direct way, explained the problem behavior, gave examples to correct it, and encouraged change. This student has become a different and happier person as a result. She treats every student and every faculty, staff or administrator with the same pleasant, respectful demeanor. I know this is why she has made friends all over campus at every level.
I am grateful every day to have Celestine at the front of the Honors office. She is always welcoming and friendly to our students, even at the expense of the many things she is trying to complete. She will do everything possible to answer a student question while the student is here - I have heard her call just about every office on campus to make sure she provides the right information and/or sends the students to the right place. She then takes those amazing notes so that she is ready for the next student. She attends almost all of our student experiences to show her support and get to know our students. Celestine remembers names and faces with fantastic accuracy, which makes students feel important and appreciated. I can't imagine anyone more Student-Centered.
Celestine rolls with the world of Buffalo State and Honors. We have been constantly changing the Honors Program since she started with us in 2018. This doesn't bother her - instead she contributes by suggesting new and better processes to manage our changes. Celestine has figured out how to keep track of over 500 students and how to manage more than 150 scholarship students. Covid didn't phase her - we moved home for a year and she kept on working as if nothing changed. She found ways to still connect to the staff and students, she came in every time it was necessary, she helped us get moved in the middle of the pandemic, and kept the entire Honors Program functioning. And through all the change, she can still laugh and make sure everyone is taken care of. What an amazing colleague I have. I am grateful for her every day. There is no one more deserving of the Caring Bengal Award.
Celestine demonstrates acts of kindness several times a day, each and every day. Even before I officially started my position, she was connecting with me via email to ensure I felt welcomed and supported. She consistently puts together thoughtful gifts for Honors guests, speakers, award recipients, etc. She coordinated a fantastic weeklong celebration for "Bosses Day" to show our team appreciation for [those she works with]. At events, I have witnessed her go out of her way to ensure attendees are hydrated and have opportunities to eat. She also assists Honors students every day by greeting them in the office, directing them to appropriate resources, fixing technical issues in the Honors Hub, and comforting those who are experiencing heightened emotions or anxiety. There are plenty of other examples of her kindness I am missing, and I've only known her for 2+ months!
Celestine is one of the most welcoming and respectful individuals I have ever met. She exudes positivity at every meeting, every email, every phone call, and to every student who stops by. She embraces diversity & inclusion by respecting and acknowledging all identities of students and staff, and by always helping quieter students feel included. When anyone is having a bad day, she is quick to offer support and a message of hope. It is such a pleasure to come to work each day knowing she will be there with such positivity.
In just two months in my role, I have seen Celestine demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in many ways. I am the first person in the Assistant Director position, so she has had to reexamine current processes to either include me or transfer responsibilities to me. We also opened the Honors Hub (SW320) space this semester and she has helped improve the room and made adjustments based on student feedback and usage. When some of our events had last minute changes or cancellations, she was able to pivot and take immediate action without missing a step. Additionally, she has a growth mindset in regards to new technologies and strives to learn new skills instead of staying stuck in older ways.
Celestine is the first face of honors of students in the office. She creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere and treats all with respect and kindness. She is an active participant in honors activities and a collaborator on engagement opportunities for students. She has a positive, welcoming and helpful personality in the office, in meetings and around campus.
Celestine is a key collaborative player in all things honors. She assists in idea-generation, planning and follow thru for events, awards, and special honors activities. Her passion for the program and care for her colleagues makes her a welcomed collaborator
Celestine cares for all the students with compassion and integrity. Celestine always makes time to assist, comfort, or mentor students as needed, even if it takes time from other work. She often works late to make sure everyone has what they need and that all her tasks are completed fully and responsibly.
The honors program has been in constant change the last 4 years. Celestine adapts, contributes, and offers comfort to all around her. She never complains about last minute changes or new tasks that must take precedence.
Celestine welcomes everyone with a smile everyday and shows that she cares deeply about everyone who comes into the Honors Office. Celestine always shows her appreciation for everyone in the office by giving small gifts or coming up with events that honor our hard work. Celestine is very vocal about how to approach different situations and has an endless way of coming up with new ideas on how to make work "easier" and more efficient.
Celestine demonstrates acts of kindness by her very presence. She is thoughtful, selfless, and always aware of others and their needs in a way that most people are not. She remembers everyone's name and story - faculty members, staff members, students - and because of this, she makes everyone feel seen and heard and recognized.
Celestine is also an active part of our campus community. She is involved with committees that work on the welfare of our administrative staff as well as ones that promote diversity and inclusion. She seems to know EVERYONE on campus. She regularly attends faculty events for the Honors faculty as well as events for our students. She shares information about events that our faculty, staff, and students might be interested in and has often promoted events that might have been lost on our radars during the semester (such as the wonderful Cultural Cafe that she plugged with enthusiasm).
Many of our Honors students will tell you that it was her that made them want to keep working to stay here when things got difficult. Celestine's care and compassion for students is evident in her one-on-one interactions with them and through their own testimonials. At our virtual commencement last year, so many students thanked her specifically!
While many people in our community are resistant to change, she faces the challenges of change head on and is the first to find the positives in any change we need to accept. When we moved our courses online, there was a lot of complaining, but she helped navigate those challenges. When we were told we'd be returning to campus, there was a lot of fear, and she was one of the first back to campus to create an environment in our program that felt like a safe place. When faculty were working remotely and staff were on campus, she offered to come to my home in order to complete a project that required we hand off supplies in person. Celestine is not only a hard-worker and conscientious of the need to embrace change, but she does so with positivity so that the changes we face together feel less challenging than they might otherwise.
Celestine is always positive and energetic, with both staff and students. She always asks how you are doing and if there is any way she can help if you are struggling. This is her every-day demeanor, not just once in a while. She greets everyone in an enthusiastic way and offers to help with whatever you might be working on.
