By Julie Depenbrock ’13

Photo Courtesy of thephotographyofmb.blogspot.com

He drives a Vespa, works an iPad, speaks like a smooth jazz DJ and sports a shoulder-length hair-do that is virtually unmistakable.

So it was difficult to believe when Vice President for Campus Life and Senior Diversity Officer Celestino Limas said, “I don’t really think I’m that interesting.”

Though Limas has spent time on both coasts, he hails from the Midwest. He majored in Psychology at the University of Iowa, received his Masters in Special Education from the University of Nebraska, and his PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon.

Most recently, he served as Dean of Students and Chief Diversity Officer at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

He became accustomed to life on the West coast, where he could ride his bike or take mass transit to work four days a week. “The granola’s a bit crunchier out there than it is here,” he said. “That’s probably the best way I could describe it.”

It was in Oregon that Limas joined the Board of Directors for a charity called “Outside In,” whose mission is to help homeless youth and others on the margin of society become healthy and self-sufficient individuals.

His favorite place to live so far has been Eugene, Oregon — where his son was born.

Indeed, it was an adjustment moving East, especially tough considering his love of two-wheeled vehicles. “I drove more here in one week than I did in Portland all year,” he said. But he is still committed to staying “green” and can most often be seen riding a bike, Vespa, or motorcycle on the hill, hair blowing in the wind.

Limas never dreamed of being anything in particular when he was growing up.

“I wanted to be like my father,” he said. “In terms of profession, it was pretty open-ended.”

So how did he end up as a college administrator, in a newly created position that oversees all areas of student life, ensuring that inclusiveness and diversity are at the center of campus-life considerations?

He distinguished himself, according to the chair of the search committee Leslie Muhlfelder.

“His references reflected that he had the ability to connect with the entire campus community,” she said. “His ability to advance the college’s agenda in the area of campus life and diversity is enhanced because of his ability to connect with various constituencies.”

Essentially, he lives up to his title.

“What’s outstanding about him…he has clearly made it a priority to get to know the community person by person,” Muhlfelder said. “He’s an educator at heart. That, to my mind, is what motivates him to do his work.”

One of his favorite parts of the week is meeting with the “VP for the Day.” His secretary, Billie Weiss, picks a student at random – someone who is neither an established leader nor a repeat student conduct offender. Limas takes the student out for coffee and they talk about the school, what’s working and what isn’t.

“Anything’s on the table for those meetings,” he said.

If students ever have an idea, a question or concern, Limas says he is the man to go to. And if he isn’t, he’ll know who is.

“I always tell students that it’s your role to not just ask questions but also to expect answers and I think that’s what I really love about what I do,” Limas said. “I get to do that every day.”