Cecelia grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and was a National Merit Scholar at Duke University, where she earned a BA degree with honors in public policy studies (health policy concentration) as well as the Master of Health Administration degree. She worked initially in government relations with American Diabetes Association and as an administrative resident at Georgia Baptist Medical Center following graduate school. Cecelia joined Duke University Health System in 1999 as associate director of managed care finance. She was vice president of finance and chief operating officer for the Patient Revenue Management Organization and chief financial officer for the Private Diagnostic Clinic at Duke University Medical Center before joining Vanderbilt. In her current position, Cecelia oversees all financial and control activities at Vanderbilt University Medical Center . Cecelia is also a Certified Public Accountant. She has been secretary, treasurer of the Jaycees, a deacon of First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Junior League of Durham. Cecelia is also active in the Health Care Financial Management Organization and is a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional. Her relaxations are tennis, choir, and watching basketball. She and her husband, Chris, spend much free time watching their teen age son and daughter play sports.