Dr. Celeste Phillips is a compassionate mentor and innovative educator whose personal investment in students and colleagues transforms learning and professional growth. When a student faced a family emergency after their child suffered a severe fall, Dr. Phillips reached out personally to offer emotional support and ensured the student received missed content and exam preparation, balancing human care with academic support in a way the student called extraordinary.

A colleague recalls Dr. Phillips’s patient, hands-on mentorship during their transition to faculty, answering questions, providing resources, and checking in regularly so the new professor felt confident and supported. Dr. Phillips also developed a practical pyramid diagram to help senior students self-assess NCLEX readiness; this tool’s success has led to its adoption across Chamberlain campuses.

Through compassionate outreach, thoughtful one-on-one coaching, and educational innovation that benefits learners campus-wide, Dr. Celeste Phillips exemplifies the best of nursing education. She is a deeply deserving DAISY Honoree.