Celina Toney
Celina Toney is a strategic leader in healthcare education and community-based care, serving as Department Chair and Associate Professor at Red Rocks Community College in Colorado. She is also Board President of Casa Inmigrante and Co-Chair of Mobile Clinics initiatives focused on expanding healthcare access for underserved populations. With over a decade of experience as a Certified Medical Assistant and Phlebotomist, she brings a strong clinical foundation to her leadership in allied health education and workforce development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Grand Canyon University and is dedicated to building accessible, skills-based pathways into healthcare careers.
In her role at Red Rocks Community College, Celina leads multiple accredited programs including Medical Assisting (CAAHEP-accredited), Phlebotomy, Medical Office Administration, and Medical Billing & Reimbursement. She is responsible for program leadership, curriculum development, accreditation compliance, faculty support, and industry partnerships that align education with evolving workforce needs. Her work emphasizes stackable credential pathways, allowing students to progress from certifications into degree programs while gaining hands-on clinical experience through simulation labs, externships, and concurrent enrollment partnerships with high schools.
Beyond academia, Celina is deeply committed to health equity and community impact. Through her leadership at Casa Inmigrante and mobile clinic initiatives, she helps design and deliver community-based healthcare services that address barriers to access for immigrant and underserved populations. She is focused on integrating education with service delivery, creating opportunities where students gain real-world experience while communities receive direct care. Her work reflects a broader mission of strengthening healthcare systems by developing skilled professionals and expanding equitable access to care.
• REMOTE 2022 Maximizing Success for Learners
• Teacher License, Career And Technical Education
• CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor
• Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT)
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Red Rocks Community College
• Grand Canyon University - B.S.
• Ambassador of Fun
• AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants)
• Casa Immigrante (Board President)
• 9Health Fair
• Red Rocks Community College
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to learning how to turn vision into execution, and being bold enough to act on it.
I’ve always had big ideas, but I realized quickly that ideas don’t create impact, follow-through does. Once I became intentional about what I take on and committed to seeing it through, everything started to shift.
I also made a conscious decision to stop waiting for permission. If I see a gap, I move on it. If there’s an opportunity to build something better, I step into it. That mindset has allowed me to lead, create, and expand in ways I wouldn’t have if I had waited to be invited.
And a huge part of my “why” comes from my personal health journey. It shaped how I see healthcare, how I teach it, and the standards I expect from my students. For me, it’s not just about training competent professionals, it’s about developing people who lead with both skill and humanity.
My success comes from that combination: vision, execution, and purpose, and a willingness to show up fully in every space I’m in.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best professional advice I’ve ever received completely reframed how I move in my career: be intentional, not just ambitious.
I’ve always been someone with big ideas and a lot of energy, but I learned that ideas alone don’t build impact. Execution does. Being intentional about what I start, and committed enough to finish it, has been one of the biggest shifts in how I lead.
I was also told something I think more women need to hear: you don’t need permission to lead.
If you see something that needs to be built, fixed, or elevated, go do it. Step into the role before anyone formally gives it to you.
And the one that still pushes me every time I walk into a new room: stop waiting to be chosen.
Introduce yourself. Start the conversation. Take up space. The people who create opportunity aren’t always the most qualified, they’re the ones willing to show up and engage first.
That advice gave me the confidence to move differently, and it’s something I carry into every room I walk into.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are staying true to the community college mission and never forgetting my audience - those students who may not be able to go to university, who may not even know how to get involved in college or certification programs. I believe education alone isn't enough. Access, exposure, and as many real-world opportunities as possible are what actually change students' lives. I have a core mindset around resilience and building the life you want, and I put that into practice by always putting a human side to what we do. I ask my students to envision a real person - their mom, sister, or aunt - when they're practicing skills, because when you put a human side to it, you get better outcomes. I also value being honest, unapologetic, and matter-of-fact. I want my students, especially the women in my courses, to see that you can actually be powerful, unapologetic, honest, do all the crazy stuff that nobody wants to do, and still be celebrated.