Arizona Humanities is pleased to announce the addition of Celeste Winters, CFRE, MAJ as Development Director.
Executive Director Brenda Thomson noted “We are delighted to have Celeste Winters join the talented team of professionals we have here on staff. Winters brings a new element to the mix, as we grow the work of Arizona Humanities so that we can reach more Arizonans statewide. She understands that expanding our resources, audience and reach is critical to our mission of enriching the culture of Arizona. As a teacher she also understands the importance of civic engagement and life-long learning.”
Winters remarked, “I am honored to be part of Arizona Humanities because it has such a wonderful reputation and great programs. The humanities help us to understand our history and ourselves better, and I’m excited to support these vital programs across the state.”
Celeste Winters, CFRE, MAJ, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, and holds a Master of Arts in Journalism. Originally from Huntington, WV, Celeste worked in advertising and public relations before becoming Executive Director of the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY. She later became the Executive Director of the Marshall University Artists’ Series in Huntington, WV. Both the Paramount Arts Center and Marshall Artists Series are nonprofit organizations, where Winters conducted fundraising, marketing and public relations. Winters shared, “I was so fortunate to receive a graduate assistantship with Marshall University’s Artists Series, a nonprofit performing arts organization. I was hired to write promotional copy for events, and it was then I realized additional funding would enable the Artists Series to offer an expanded arts program and to serve more students and local residents. I was in the right place at the right time to begin a career in fundraising.”
Winters later served as Director of Communications for ASU Gammage, where she promoted and raised funds for the Valley Broadway and Kerr Cultural Series events. Since 2001 Winters has been a fundraising, marketing, public relations and event consultant. She is also an instructor for the University of Phoenix Colleges of Humanities and Business. Winters added, “Through teaching, I see how students benefit and appreciate the humanities, so it will be a great experience to work with the staff and board of directors of Arizona Humanities to increase public programs for Arizonans statewide.”
To contact Celeste Winters, she can be reached a cwinters@azhumanities.org or 602-257-0335 x27.
For questions, please contact Brenda Thomson Executive Director at bthomson@azhumanities.org or 602-257-0335 x22.