Our People

Viviana Celaya was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. As a young child, she always gravitated toward the ocean and its creatures. Celaya graduated from Alliance Marc and Eva Stern Mass Math and Science High School in 2019. Graduating from a STEM school, inspired her to peruse Environmental Science.

Currently, Celaya is a first-generation Latina student at California State University Channel Islands, pursuing my B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management with a minor in Biology, with an emphasis on Marine and Coastal Systems and a certificate in Environmental Technologies. Throughout her time at CSU Channel Islands, I have become a student researcher, including time as a CSUCI-SMART fellow for 2 years working on beaver research. Through this fellowship, Celaya was afforded many unique opportunities to conduct research. One such instance was a research opportunity in Maui, Hawaii studying humpback whales. She has also been involved in a Field Studies Program on Santa Rosa Island, focusing on pinnipeds as well as various field methods. These wonderful experiences have prepared her for what lies ahead.