Celina Trujillo, Ph.D., (she/her) joined IHSI in November 2023 as Research Development Manager for the Community-Academic Partnerships core. In this role, Celina is responsible for identifying and supporting new community initiatives involving campus researchers, students, and community partners, and working to strengthen community-health focused relationships with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Tell us briefly about your background.
I came to UIUC for undergrad and never left! I completed all my degrees (BS, MS, and PhD) in Human Development and Family Studies at Illinois. My education and research background has been interdisciplinary, intersectional and with a focus on equity. My first job post-graduation was at the Office of Minority Student Affairs at U of I where I oversaw the McNair Scholars Program, an undergraduate research experience to prepare low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students for graduate school and a career in academia. Most recently I was the Associate Program Director of Community Relations for DREAAM, a local non-profit serving "high hope" African American boys and young men ages three to 24 by providing resources for their achievement, engagement and overall health.
What excites you about this role?
I am excited to bridge the connection between the campus and the community. Having lived and worked professionally in each setting, I am eager to foster collaborations in order to promote both health innovation as well as health equity.
What do you hope to learn?
I am eager to learn more about the multiple dimensions of heath. I am particularly interested in the social determinants of health and how we can address that with and for communities, especially the most vulnerable communities.
What makes the Champaign-Urbana community special to you?
CU is the perfect size. There are so many resources, entertainment options, restaurants and other opportunities of a bigger city. It is also small enough that many times when someone is about to connect me with someone else, it turns out that I already know them in another context!
Where might we find you outside of work?
I have recently dabbled in community theatre and have been in two productions at Station Theatre in Urbana and two productions with Coalescence Theatre Project in Bloomington. I like to attend performing arts of all varieties, so you can find me at various venues across town. I also enjoy nature and other than my own backyard, which has the Boneyard Creek running along it, I also enjoy Busey Woods, Meadowbrook Park, the Arboretum, and the Forest Preserves. Lastly, I enjoy all things cooking and eating, so I might be at Art Mart finding new cheeses or the Farmer's market to get fresh produce. I am eagerly awaiting the grand opening of H-Mart in Urbana!