Celeste Schoenthaler has been appointed to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, replacing outgoing member Mike Glenn this fall, as his term ends after 14 years.
Schoenthaler is the Executive Director of Olympic Community of Health. She collaborated with the college this year to connect PC’s at-risk students to community-based wraparound services on campus.
“Celeste was instrumental in bringing those organizations to the college, and now she is working on replicating the model at our Forks and Port Townsend campuses,” Peninsula College President Suzy Ames said. “The college is really fortunate to have someone with her community connections represented on our Board of Trustees.”
Schoenthaler holds a BA in Exercise Science from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and a Master of Public Health from the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana.
She has lived on the Peninsula for 10 years and said she is excited to deepen her connections and commitments to support healthy people and thriving communities. She added that her own experience at college and university was very important to who she’s become in her career, and she hopes to foster more collaboration between academia and community partners.
“I hope to foster deeper connections with the amazing community partners who support the student body, staff, and faculty in assuring that students can meet their full potential and accomplish their educational, family, and career goals,” Schoenthaler said. “I hope to learn more about the programs and career tracks offered by Peninsula College and the interests of prospective students on the Peninsula.”
Coming from a Public Health background, she brings a passion for health and equity to her work along with experience in policy, systems and environment change efforts, and strategic communications.
In her spare time, Celeste enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and traveling to places unknown.
Photo courtesy of Olympic Community of Health.