Congratulations to Zeinab Osman who is among 13 women being honored as one of this year’s 2024 HER Women of Achievement, presented by The Gazette. The Gazette’s HER Women of Achievement is an annual program that recognizes individuals who are leading, inspiring and creating positive change in Eastern Iowa.

Zeinab Osman serves College Community Schools as a Community Engagement Specialist. As a Community Engagement Specialist, Ms. Osman (or Miss Z, as the students say) supports students to enroll in activities and athletics, pursue their interests in academics and volunteerism, and best prepare them for options after high school.

Zeinab assists the immigrant and refugee newcomers to our community and uses her connections in and outside of our district to position our new families for success in school.  She partners with a variety of excellent community agencies in our area to serve our newcomer students well such as Kirkwood Community College, the Catherine McAuley Center, and Linn County Public Health.  

Zeinab hears and observes the perspectives of students whose backgrounds and day-to-day experiences may be vastly different from those of most educators.  Whether it is collaborating with staff to understand a student’s challenges and the impact on school or arranging a sports physical clinic on campus so that students can participate in a school sport, her passion for creating pathways for students is unrelenting. 

“We are so fortunate to have Zeinab as a team member at College Community,” said Laura Medberry, Executive Director of Learning Supports.  “Zeinab and her Community Engagement Specialist colleagues consistently go the extra mile for our students, staff, and families.”

The HER Women of Achievement event will be held on June 13 at the Cedar Rapids DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Complex. The keynote speaker is Clarissa Chun, University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling Head Coach. 

Click here for more information about the HER Women of Achievement program.