Community Leader of the Year: Megan O'Bryan

Megan O’Bryan, president of the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, has built her career in Cleveland’s nonprofit sector, working across social justice, human services and education with a focus on making systems work better for the people they serve.

After earning a master’s degree in nonprofit organizations from Case Western Reserve University, O’Bryan held roles across several community-focused organizations. Experience as a hotline volunteer with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center eventually led to a leadership role there, while serving as an appointed trustee on the Cuyahoga Community College Board of Trustees introduced her to Tri-C’s reach across the region.

“Community colleges, in particular, I think, are really important because they sit at the intersection of education, workforce development and economic mobility,” she says. “The work of the foundation gives me the opportunity to connect people who want to help students, and in turn, it has a domino effect on our regional economy.”

Though her career has taken her to Washington, D.C., O’Bryan chose to put down roots in Northeast Ohio, where she felt she could “make an impact and make a difference.”

At Tri-C, O’Bryan leads fundraising and builds partnerships to support students inside and outside of the classroom, from scholarships and workforce training to food pantries, housing assistance, child care and transportation support. Among her major efforts, she helped lead the foundation’s $58 million Skills to Succeed Campaign, which expanded workforce development and short-term training opportunities connecting students with family-sustaining careers.

O’Bryan describes her leadership style as authentic and straightforward, focused on listening to what people need to do their best work and giving them room to draw on their own talents. She also values humor and humility, with laughter playing an important role in the teams she leads.

“Earlier in my career, I felt like, as a leader, I needed to have all the answers, and I guess over time I’ve learned that’s not necessarily the definition of leadership,” O’Bryan says.

Today, she sees leadership as more about asking the right questions and surrounding herself with talented people. That philosophy extends to her view of leadership, which she sees as using her position, relationships and experience to create opportunities.

“No one gets to where they are alone,” she says. “It reflects a community of people who work together.”

Ultimately, it’s the students who keep O’Bryan passionate about the work. Despite juggling responsibilities outside the classroom, they continue to show up.

“Barriers should not be a reason that a student has to give up on their future or their dreams,” she says.