Celia joined the Albuquerque Community Foundation team in the spring of 2023. Celia is of the Aymara people of Bolivia through her father and was raised by her mother in Gainesville, Florida. After going to college in the northeast and law school in the west, Celia found her home in the vibrant community of Albuquerque in 2004.

Her legal work in Florida, California and New Mexico included support of survivors of domestic violence, as well as advocacy for senior citizens and youth in special education. In Albuquerque, Celia worked at Catholic Charities for 11+ years, directly serving immigrants and refugees, and in her last couple of years there, supporting all programming as the Chief Program Officer. In fall 2021, Celia became the first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at United Way of North Central New Mexico.  Throughout her career, Celia has centered clear communication in her collaborations: Aruskipt’asipxañanakasakipuniraskispawa – Sea lo que fuere, estamos obligados a comunicarnos – In all situations, we must communicate with each other.

Celia is part of a blended family, with three teenagers at home.  She enjoys reading both fiction and nonfiction, dancing for exercise and fun, listening to podcasts, hikes with her husband, and relaxing with her two senior chihuahuas. Her joy comes from being with her kids, challenging herself through deep learning from the wisdom of those with lived experience, and learning how to embrace rest as a value in life.

• Red or green? Green
• Mountain or River? River
• Comedy Club or Dance Club? Dance club, if I can find one that gets going at 6pm and wraps up by 9pm
• Hometown: Gainesville, FL
• High School Mascot: The Hurricanes
• If you could have lunch with anyone alive or dead, who would it be? Angela Davis
• If you didn’t work for the Foundation, where would you work? For a nonprofit that finds creative ways to address food waste and share excess food with those who most need it
• Name three songs you would include on your soundtrack of life: Joni Mitchell's "Carey", Earth Wind and Fire's "Let's Groove", and Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Haydn
• What’s your favorite time of the year in New Mexico? Spring for the weather, and summer for outdoor events
• What is a skill you’d like to learn? How to ride a unicycle