Miller Celestin, clinical assistant professor of nursing, recently received the Dr. H. Lawrence McCrorey Award for Inclusive Excellence in recognition of his contributions to creating a legacy of equity, justice and inclusion at ¶¶Òõ̽̽. The honor is awarded to a faculty or staff member of color who demonstrates a commitment to inclusive excellence, anti-oppression, social justice and fighting discrimination for those from historically underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds.
Professor Celestin was nominated for his work to incorporate anti-racist healthcare practices into existing courses. His commitment to social justice and advocacy is evident both on campus and in the healthcare settings where he practices as a registered nurse, through his focus on preparing nurses to understand health disparities better and address health inequities and through his work as co-director of Finding Affinity and Mentorship, a joint College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Larner College of Medicine mentorship program dedicated to increasing the sense of belonging for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) nursing and medical students.
Professor Celestin graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in 2013 and began his nursing career in New York City as a community mental health nurse at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services and in the Adult Emergency Room at Harlem Hospital Center. He relocated to Chicago, working in various nursing roles, including primary care and medical and surgical units, where he realized his passion for nursing education after training many new nurses in his team. He earned a master’s degree with a concentration in Nursing Education from the University of Illinois–Chicago. In addition to teaching Health Alterations and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing at ¶¶Òõ̽̽, he works as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Medical Center.
The award was presented to Professor Celestin by Leslie McCrorey Wells during the Andrew Harris Legacy Reception on October 1.
The Dr. H. Lawrence McCrorey Award for Inclusive Excellence is named in honor of Dr. H. Lawrence McCrorey and his distinguished twenty-seven-year career and leadership in promoting educational excellence, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and strategies for combatting racism. The annual Andrew Harris Legacy Reception, named after the first African-American graduate of ¶¶Òõ̽̽, honors the legacy and work of ¶¶Òõ̽̽ community members who have inspired and strengthened diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. The 2023 Andrew Harris Legacy Reception honored the life of David Bethuel Jamieson, who attended ¶¶Òõ̽̽ in the 1980s and 90s. Jamieson, who died in 1992, was an activist and artist, President of the Black Student Union. He is remembered for his artwork capturing student activism and the experience of being Black in Vermont.