College of Education Award Recipients

yOUNG ALUMNA OF THE YEAR aWARD

Celina Dabrowski Pauly, Grad '12
Milwaukee

In Celina’s world as an elementary school counselor, she never knows what issue is going to pop up in her doorway. She credits critical thinking as the key skill she learned at Marquette to help in those moments.

“Marquette connected me with some of the most insightful and innovative leaders, which helped shape me into the counselor I am today,” she says. “I was expected to think critically, which was the foundation of my success in the real world.”

Celina has served as a counselor at Irving Elementary School in West Allis, Wis., for the past five years. She came to Marquette from the East Coast and feels “inspired and enthusiastic about her work.” That enthusiasm translates over to the young minds she cultivates daily.

Her impact has gone far beyond her school. Celina has led the development of a district-wide school counseling curriculum that is also being used across Wisconsin and even in international settings. She has also provided training and consultation to Milwaukee Public Schools on social-emotional learning.

“In my work, I am given several opportunities to help those in need, and I carry that mind-set into my everyday life,” she says. “Each interaction is an opportunity to make a difference in the life of another person.”

Fun fact: Celina is an advocate for the Wisconsin Humane Society and has adopted four animals. She calls this “bringing a voice to the voiceless.”