Celia Clay, MPH, CTP, PCOE
Celia Clay, MPH, CTP, PCOE, is a distinguished public health professional, educator, and military veteran whose career reflects over three decades of service and leadership in health sciences, emergency preparedness, and education. Currently serving as the Public Health Emergency Planning Coordinator for the Fort Bend County Department of Health & Human Services, she brings a wealth of expertise from her years as a U.S. Air Force Reserve Senior Public Health Officer and Subject Matter Expert in biological warfare, epidemiology, and medical readiness. Her extensive credentials include certifications as a Certified Training Professional and a Professional in Online Education, alongside her Master of Public Health degree and advanced studies through the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.
Throughout her career, Ms. Clay has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing public health education and crisis response. She has served as Program Manager for the Texas Engineering Extension Service, teaching and developing preparedness programs under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and spent more than a decade as an Allied Health Sciences Instructor with Pearland ISD, where she earned the “Above & Beyond Teacher Award.” Her passion for mentorship and professional development also led her to participate as faculty in the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Michael J. Ahearn Summer Workshop for High School Science Educators, and to serve as a mentor through the University of St. Thomas Alumni Program.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Celia remains deeply engaged in community service. She has volunteered for nearly two decades with the Pearland Area Citizens Corps, the Medical Reserve Corps, and Community Emergency Response Teams, teaching disaster readiness and health resilience to youth and adults alike. A retired officer and lifelong learner, she continues to champion public health education, emergency preparedness, and the empowerment of future leaders in healthcare and community service.
• Professional Certificate in Online Education
• Certified Training Professional (national level)
• Medical Readiness Planner
• TEA Licensure: Secondary Science English & Health Science Technology
• UTHealth Houston School of Public Health - MPH
• Pearland ISD Above & Beyond Teacher Award
• Colonel Joseph M. Long Trophy
• Pearland Area Citizens Corps (PACC)
• Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart CARITAS Volunteer Program
• SEMPER FI NUMBER (#) 3 MEMORIAL HONOR DETAIL INC
• Pearland Medical Reserve Corps
• Community Emergency Response Team
• The University of St. Thomas Alumni Mentoring Program
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my deep passion for public health. Over the years, I have been fortunate to lead an eventful and rewarding career, traveling the world on various health missions that have broadened my perspective and strengthened my expertise. Prior to my work in public health, I began my professional journey as a school teacher, an experience that instilled in me a lifelong commitment to education, service, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Without a doubt, the best career advice I have ever received was to enter the US Air Force! Colleagues in graduate school, primarily physicians, Veterinarians and nurses, all members of either the US Army Medical Corps or the US Air Force Public Health career field, strongly encouraged me to consider military service. I ended up choosing the US Air Force Reserve over full-time active duty; however, this path opened the finest possible post-graduate study opportunities as well as tremendous career challenges and growth opportunities over twenty years! Best decision I ever made!
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be open-minded, learn from those already serving in your career pathway and be willing to work hard to achieve success. Do NOT be afraid to ask questions and, upon occasion, to fail. Failure can bring tremendous insight into where you need to grow yourself and your career. Aways continue your studies and learning along the way!
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Without a doubt, the reduction by the federal government in Public Health funding as well as Emergency Preparedness and Response have had direct impacts to careers and programs in my field. However, terrorist acts and the increased rate of change in some human pathogens in response to climate change are also MAJOR challenges impacting my particular career field.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Valuing life, especially in newborns, infants and children under a year in age. Although I am not a Maternal Child Health Epidemiologist, as a Public Health Emergency Response Planner, this group is one of the Vulnerable Populations I am charged with protecting the health of during any type of emergency or natural disaster. With their "naive" immune systems (unless they are breastfeeding and have some passive immunity from their mother's antibodies) infants under 12 months of age are one of the MOST vulnerable groups in our societies. This became especially apparent during the initial years of the COVID pandemic. As a result, I truly value protecting the health of these infants and their young families, usually with toddler siblings. Family and my community I live in are also very important values in my personal life. When I am not working, spending time connecting with my pets as well as the people in my family and extended family are key values in my life.
Locations
Fort Bend County Dept. of Health & Human Services
4520 Reading Road, Pearland, TX 77584