We hope you enjoy this series where we meet and get to know employees from across campus. Would you like to be featured? Contact us at campusnews@csufresno.edu.

Name: Celeste DeMonte
Title: Program Review Coordinator, CPHS Coordinator, Member SAEC
Department: Academic Affairs
Academic Degree(s): B.A. in Art with an emphasis in design, Fresno State

How long have you worked at Fresno State?
A year and a half.

Are you a Valley native?
I consider myself so. My family moved to the Central Valley from southern California when I was an infant (not really all that long ago).

Are you a Bulldog family with generations of Bulldog graduates or current students?
Yes, I’m so proud of my mother Elizabeth for having completed her B.A. here while she had three kids still in elementary school. She went on to get her teaching credential here. My sister Becky received both her undergraduate degree and teaching credential from here. My sister Catherine started her studies here, and then transferred to California State University, Northridge for her B.A. and master's.

Though my father Brent graduated from UCLA he was the “Voice of the Bulldogs” for men’s football and basketball for over 30 years. When I was young, we lived near Radcliffe Stadium where the Bulldogs played before the current stadium was built. As kids, from our beds we could hear Dad’s voice over the PA during the home football games. Also, my husband, Neal Howard, is a new member of the Timeout Club Board of Directors, so we are definitely all in for this campus.

Do you have a campus mentor or someone who has helped you in your career?
Dean Burnadette Muscat and my colleague Jayne Ramirez have provided me with tremendous guidance and shown exceptional patience as I navigated my early months here. Dr. Jennifer Randles was of great support in getting me on my feet with Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects and in learning the “nuances” (euphemism) of Kuali.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
As part of accreditation, each degree/program offered here must complete a regular program review. Our university has many programs that go through the process with an outside accrediting agency, and we then provide an abbreviated program review. For the rest, the program review coordinator ushers this multi-year process through the steps of a self-study, site visit, reporting, departmental and dean approval, an action plan, and finally the close of the review cycle.

The Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS) protects the health and rights of human subjects who may be involved in research investigations while promoting research integrity. This entity is also known as an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The CPHS coordinator provides administrative support to the committee.

I am a new member of the Staff Assembly Executive Committee (SAEC), which works to enhance the well-being and active involvement of staff members by promoting engagement and activities and fostering opportunities to be more involved in and informed about campus affairs. Among many other things, we facilitate staff and faculty Red Fridays, Winter Celebrations, Vintage Days Kick-off Breakfast and assemblies.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
Prior to coming here, I had careers as a graphic designer, residential real estate appraiser, and technical writer. When contemplating what seemed like a desultory career path, it dawned on me that the throughline is communication. I am passionate about helping others help themselves, so I am probably proudest of user assistance documentation I created.

What is a memorable moment you had at your job?
Last semester our university applied for a new Carnegie Elective Classification, for Leadership for Public Purpose. The application process was a monumental task headed up by Dr. Muscat. Many people contributed massive amounts of information that not only needed to be plugged into the right places, but each response had to be whittled to 500 words or less. I had a supporting role in the application process, and Dr. Muscat’s finally hitting that submit button was so meaningful. Hopefully we’ll learn a positive outcome of the application this spring.

What is the most interesting or unusual job you've ever had?
In college I worked at the erstwhile Manchester Cinema. In addition to slinging soda, I took off-movie-hours shifts to run the popcorn machine and pop enormous bags of popcorn in a small upstairs room behind the movie screen.

What is your favorite quote or saying?
“Vocatus atque non vocatus deus aderit.” Also, “You can't keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair.” I have an easier time remembering the former over the latter, but I try.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
Hang out with husband Neal, a retired pharmacist, and Teddy and Clive, the Cats Mandu. I also enjoy the campus OLLI classes, gardening, swimming, traveling, Rogue Festival, reading, and Fresno State Wine Club.

I currently serve on the boards of Valley Public Radio and Fresno Filmworks, and I sing (alto) with and am a board member of Fresno Master Chorale. I chair the CSU Summer Arts Community Board, which raises funds for local student scholarships to this life-changing program. I’ve served on the board and remain active with Alliance Française de Fresno. On occasion, as currently, I become fixated on a jigsaw puzzle.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I am a complete sucker for the music of ABBA.

Is there something else you would like to share that was not asked?
By the time I got here as a student, I’d already attended two colleges: Fresno City (A.A.) and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Facing some personal challenges at that time, all I wanted to do was graduate and get on with my life. Because I didn’t seek out any of the academic or personal counseling that might have been available, I’m certain it took longer to graduate than it should have. I didn’t really think twice about being a Bulldog.

It took me three careers and one retirement to find my dream job, and I couldn’t be prouder to be back here. It is said that if you want to stay young, hang around young people, and I think it follows that if you want to be smart, hang around smart people. Working here gives me the opportunity to do both. Before starting my job here, I already had many dear friends and fond acquaintances who are members of the faculty and staff. In the relatively short time I’ve worked here, I have made new connections with many brilliant, committed, engaging, and talented people. What impresses me most is the priority I see everywhere given to ensure the success of our students.