Staff Directory
- Title:
- Director, Community Engagement
- Email:
- Phone:
- 412-648-8240
Celeste Welsh joined the Pitt Athletic Department in 2004 where she began by serving in the capacity of Media Relations Coordinator and then promoted to Director of Media Operations and Community Engagement in 2021 by Heather Lyke, Director of Athletics.
Welsh’s primary mission is to encourage, educate, and coordinate community engagement opportunities with over 500 Pitt’s student-athletes, for the betterment of both. Special emphasis is placed on providing help to the individuals in the underserved neighborhoods surrounding the Pitt campus. Additionally, she is instrumental in raising awareness of the many programs in progress across the community.
Welsh presently works primarily in community engagement with communities in Homewood, Hazelwood, and the Hill District, as well as Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Boys and Girls Club, Western PA, ALS Association, Special Olympics, Department of Veteran Affairs, Salvation Army, and Big Brothers-Big Sisters. She also works directly with JMI Sports Marketing with key sponsorships, collaborating on community events.
Responsible for overseeing community related initiatives for over 500 student-athletes and 19 sports. In this role, she has been recognized by the NCAA for several Community Champions Awards. In 2023, Pitt ranked 5th in the nation among all Division I community service Champions Awards and ranked first overall in the awards among Power Five conferences in 2022 with Pitt Football ranked first among all Division I football programs. In 2021, Pitt Athletics ranked first in NCAA Division I schools.
Welsh has had crucial involvement with community work that provided great community financial benefit, for instance:
- She assisted in raising $135,000 with the “Cal’s Kids” initiative, with Cal Adomitis, former Pitt long snapper, who has since signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Welsh worked side by side with Deslin Alexandre, former DL for Pitt who has since signed with the New York Jets, on a 5th Down Campaign which raised $55,000 for the children of Haiti, Deslin’s native home.
- Welsh is currently assisting David Green with his efforts to raise $22,222 for the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Welsh is instrumental in the oversight of Pitt’s football press box at Accrisure Stadium, and is a key liaison for national, local, and visiting media, professional scouts, and college bowl game representatives. She dramatically upgraded the efficiency of Pitt’s credentialing by introducing an online system.
Welsh has shared in five “Super 11” sports information recognitions from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). With her perseverance, Pitt has five times been named to the “Super 11” field of sports information departments by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), which honors those offices deemed the best in the NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision.
Her skills have been highly sought at various high-profile sporting events beyond Pitt. She has worked on such national-caliber events as the Kentucky Derby (2017), US Golf Open (2016), the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament (2012, 2015, 2018, 2021) and the women’s basketball NCAA Tournament (2007).
Prior to Pitt, Welsh worked at neighboring Duquesne University from 2000-04 as Assistant to the Athletic Director. Her duties included the coordination of special events, including golf outings, awards dinners, and banquets. She also managed team camps and travel, the management of interns and student assistants and coordinated events for the fundraising organization “Dukes Court.”
Welsh started her professional career as public relations director for the Montour School District in 1996. She wrote and published award-winning community newsletters, implemented such impactful initiatives as “Employee of the Month,” “Buy-A-Brick” fundraising program, “Teacher Excellence Award Program,” and the “Vietnam Elementary School Fundraising Event.” Welsh was also recognized by the district for her grant writing ability for the very successful after-school program, “Imagine That” which is still in existence today.
