People

Celestte Panduro Orellana

As an LVC Fellow, Celestte will serve with AHR for an entire year working on International Advocacy. In this position, she will assist with any International Advocacy projects or routine administrative tasks, and manage interns as well.

Celestte was motivated to work in international human rights after spending some time abroad in Mexico, Honduras, and Thailand studying migrant movements and meeting with Human Rights advocates.

A Honduran-Peruvian immigrant herself, she began working with immigrants and refugees at the age of sixteen, volunteering with local organizations to run community projects that offered various social services, such as interpretation, English-learning, food and clothes distribution, and more. This past year, she successfully completed two internships; the first was with an organization in Oaxaca, Mexico called Grupo de Estudio Sobre la Mujer Rosario Castellanos A.C., where she was a service and communications dual intern. The second internship was with Amica Center (formerly CAIR Coalition) as a dual intern for the Legal Orientation Program and Volunteer Services. During the summer, she enjoys working in her hometown with children and community partners at the Zach Johnson Foundation and Catherine McAuley Center.

Celestte graduated magna cum laude in May of 2025 from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA with a BA in International Studies and Political Science and a minor in Spanish Studies. She also had the privilege of being chosen as her Class's featured Commencement Speaker.

As well as English, she reads, writes, and interprets in Spanish, her native tongue.