Staff Spotlight: Celeste Donleavy
20 Years of Faithful Service and Student Impact
Celeste Donleavy
Associate Dean of Student Leadership and Engagement
This August, we’re celebrating a truly meaningful milestone: Celeste Donleavy ‘04, ’09 (Elementary Education, M.Ed), Associate Dean of Student Leadership and Engagement, is marking 20 years of dedicated service to Roberts Wesleyan University!
From her first role in the Advancement Office to nearly two decades helping shape student life, Celeste’s journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment, heart for mentorship, and deep connection to the Roberts community. A proud Canadian with family ties to Roberts—her parents even met on campus!—Celeste first joined the staff in 2005. Since then, she’s worked in Residence Life and now leads in Student Leadership & Engagement, creating spaces where students thrive both personally and spiritually.
We caught up with Celeste to reflect on her career, passion for students, and what she’s looking forward to this fall.
Q&A with Celeste Donleavy
How would you explain your job to someone?
I coordinate student activities on campus, including new student orientation programs, and I work closely with student leaders in many different capacities.
What advice do you have for students starting this fall?
Get out there and get involved! Studies show that when students engage early in the semester, they’re more likely to succeed, build connections, and feel a lasting sense of belonging on campus.
What is the best part of your workday?
Working with students! They bring so much joy and energy. These are such formative years, and I feel honored to walk alongside them as they grow in their personal journey here at the University.
How does your role connect to the mission of Roberts?
At Roberts, we believe in transformational experiences:
Through coursework,
Through growing relationships,
Through service.
My role supports students in all these areas. We want them to discover their community, make a difference, and see God’s plan unfolding in their lives.
What keeps you motivated?
The Student Life team and the students—hands down! They are amazing people. I genuinely look forward to coming to work every day. It doesn’t feel like work when it’s about relationships and community. I’m incredibly grateful for every experience that has led me to this point in my career.
What are you most excited about for Fall 2025?
So much!
Leadership Week
New Student Orientation – always a highlight to start the year
The First 40 Days event series, which helps students plug in and get involved
Welcoming back our student leaders and fall athletes
And seeing our students thrive in every way—academically, spiritually, and socially.
Thank you, Celeste, for your incredible 20 years of service and leadership. Roberts is blessed by your passion, presence, and faithful impact on generations of students!
About the author
Roberts Wesleyan University
As a community of learners committed to historic Christianity, Roberts Wesleyan University seeks to prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will help transform society.
We are a private Christian university in Rochester, New York, offering over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs.
As the only NCAA Division II institution in the region and member of the East Coast Conference, Roberts is committed to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and competitive athletics.