Celine Moubayed

This is the first in a series of articles on the three 2019 Mihaylo College commencement speakers. 

When Celine Moubayed ’19 (economics) was in high school, one of her teachers, a Cal State Fullerton grad, advised her to go to professor office hours when she reached college. As a Mihaylo College student, it is advice that Moubayed has acted on regularly.

“It has allowed me to create deeper connection with some of my professors, many of whom I still go to for life advice,” she says.

As she reflects on her student experience, which has included serving as chief communications officer for ASI, Moubayed looks at the support of her family and Mihaylo College as being invaluable in her success.

“I would not have made it past my first day of college if it were not for my parents, the counsel of Mihaylo advisors, the support of professors and the guidance of the two assistant deans,” she says.

Moubayed’s campus involvement began in summer 2016, when she served as an orientation leader, providing tours of campus to Southern California high schoolers and schoolchildren. It was an impactful experience that would lead to greater opportunities.

“It allowed me to establish a great connection with Colleen McDonough and Emeline Yong, arguably two of the best assistant deans,” she says. “They’ve pushed me to be the best I can be, and it’s because of them that I participated in activities in ASI, such as being chief communications officer, and being an instructional student assistant,” she says. “The highlight during my term in ASI was when President Dadabhoy and I collected a literal ton – three large land storage tins – of food for Second Harvest Food Bank in Fullerton.”

Today, Moubayed is a communications intern for the County of Orange, a role in which she assists in the preparation and distribution of digital and traditional media content on behalf of the governmental body, as well as organizing marketing campaigns.

“This internship not only provides me with government and public relations experience, but will equip me to be a more active citizen in voting for local officials,” she says.

Looking to the future, Moubayed is considering pursuing her education in economics to the graduate or doctoral level or attending law school.

“In the future, I would love to work for some governmental organization,” she says. “I’m still trying to figure out if my title would be economist or attorney.”