Leading with Purpose

Omayma Jabara came to Montclair State planning to keep her head down. Now, she’s graduating as Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association, a budding speech-language pathologist, and one of the most engaged voices on campus.

“Honestly, I used to think I would regret getting involved,” she said. “I spent the first semester of my freshman year completely secluded. I never talked to people other than my professors, and I rushed home after class.”

But everything changed when she started saying “yes.”

Omayma, a Linguistics major with a minor in Psychology, says her journey toward speech-language pathology began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watching her younger brother receive speech therapy over Zoom sparked something. “Witnessing the difference that therapist made in his life was the factor that ultimately made me decide on this career.”

Her coursework and hands-on experiences only deepened that commitment. One of the most impactful moments came when she shadowed Heather Dibble, a speech therapist at the Ben Samuels Children’s Center. “For the first time, I saw the techniques I had studied in action,” she said. “Observing the therapist’s strategies, asking questions, and reflecting on each session confirmed that speech-language pathology is not just something I want to study, but it’s the career I want to dedicate myself to.”

Outside the classroom, Omayma became a fierce advocate for students as Executive Vice President of the SGA. She chaired weekly meetings, helped allocate $40,000 in scholarships, and supported over 130 student organizations—all while excelling academically and presenting at student research conferences.

“What made this role so meaningful was the responsibility I held to advocate for students,” she said. “It taught me the value of servant leadership—leading not for recognition, but to empower others and leave things better than I found them.”

She credits mentors like Nicole Fleming, Director of Special Events, and Julia DelBagno, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement, for showing her how authenticity and leadership can go hand in hand. “They continuously inspired me, not just through their professional success, but through their authenticity. As a young woman aspiring to lead and make a difference, I found in them powerful role models.”

Reflecting on her time at Montclair, Omayma says she’ll always carry the lesson that “meaningful change happens when people come together with shared purpose.” And if she could give one piece of advice to her first-year self?

“Don’t wait! Take up spaces! Make this campus yours.”

Her definition of success has evolved, too. “Success means having the confidence to trust that, even when the path ahead is unclear, you’ll find your way through the murky waters that inevitably flood your path.”

Omayma lives the University’s motto, carpe diem. In her own words, “Waiting for the ‘perfect’ opportunity can leave you stagnant, while embracing the present and saying ‘yes’ to new experiences opens doors you never expected,” she says.

This fall, Omayma will continue her journey at Montclair State as a graduate student in the Speech Language Pathology Master’s program, where she’s also earned a graduate assistantship.

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