Stand Up. Stand Out.
Become a Colorado Student Leader.
Our Team
Celeste Archer
Founder
Celeste Archer has been a secondary and post-secondary educator for over 25 years, during which time she has taught at urban schools and universities in Houston, Denver, and historic Little Rock Central High School.
While at Little Rock Central High School, Celeste was appointed as a Teacher-Ranger by The National Park Service Foundation, serving at the Little Rock Central National Historic Site. Celeste was also named a Presidential Timeline National Archives Scholar for 2012 by the Clinton Foundation.
Upon returning to Denver in 2012, Celeste founded the Colorado Student Leaders Institute, an affiliate of the National Conference of Governor's Schools, with a team of remarkable and engaged civic leaders. COSLI was nominated as the Outstanding Youth Group for the 2020 National Philanthropy Day.
Celeste also serves as Executive Director for Colorado’s National History Day program. Working with over 25,000 students and teachers, Celeste is given an opportunity to be part of classrooms across the state. She and NHDC were named 2019 Defenders of Democracy by The Denver League of Women Voters.
Celeste received a B.A. in History from Principia College, an M.A. in Secondary Education, specializing in Urban Education, from the University of Texas and an Executive MPA from CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs. She serves on the boards of Friends of COSLI and the National Conference of Governor’s Schools, of which she is President, as well as the Advisory Council of One Chance to Grow Up Colorado and the President’s Council of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History based in New York City. She was a 2016 graduate of Leadership Program of the Rockies, winning the Steven Wesley Wright Legacy Award.
Itzel Reyes-Gonzales
Associate Director
itzel.gonzalezxalcantara@ucdenver.edu
I am a first-generation college student who has navigated the journey of higher education with determination, culminating in the achievement of a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. My story is one of resilience, dedication, and an unwavering passion for empowering younger generations through education. As an alumni of the Colorado Student Leaders Institute (COSLI), I have had the privilege of further developing my leadership abilities in my participation as a student, RA, and now assistant director. COSLI has provided me with invaluable opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, engage in community service, and refine my commitment to public service. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the power of education to shape leaders who can drive meaningful change.
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Governance
Friends of COSLI Board
Chair: Darren Spreeuw, Ratio Wealth Group
George Sparks, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Eric Anderson, SE2
General John J. Barry, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
Diane Carlson-Robinson, One Chance to Grow Up
Erik Estrada, Liberty LA, Ltd
Itzel Reyes-Gonzales, ATAX-Thornton
Senator Chris Hansen, Colorado State Senate, Denver
Honorable Jack Kroll, Former University of Colorado Regent
Pamela Jansma, PhD, University of Colorado Denver
Representative Colin Larson, Littleton
Gretchen Lenamond, Rose Community Foundation
Ben Lusz, PorchLight Real Estate Group
Raul Cardenas, PhD, Mullen High School
Honorable Susan Miller, Jefferson County School Board
Nora Neureiter, Zoeller Consulting
Elizabeth Palmquist, EAMP Consulting
Luke Ragland, Daniels Fund
Paul Teske, PhD, University of Colorado Denver
Skip Thurman,
Senator Nancy Todd, Aurora
John Valdez, Bayfield
Johnny Valdez, University of Denver
Elizabeth Whitehead, Kaiser Permanente
Representative Jim Wilson, Salida.
Brian Yates, Colorado Springs
Tye Brown-Wolf, Silverthorne