Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryam Dr. Far.
Hi Maryam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve spent more than 25 years working in healthcare, higher education, behavioral health, and nonprofit leadership. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about serving vulnerable populations, including older adults, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and first-generation college students.
I started my career in education and healthcare and gradually moved into executive leadership roles, leading hospitals, behavioral health programs, community organizations, and nonprofits. Along the way, I earned several graduate degrees and a doctorate because I believe in lifelong learning and continuous improvement.
Today, I serve as the Executive Director of Meals That Connect, where I have the opportunity to combine my experience in leadership, healthcare, fundraising, and community engagement to support older adults throughout San Luis Obispo County. Looking back, every step of my journey has reinforced my commitment to helping people and strengthening communities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s true for most people in leadership. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in organizations facing financial challenges, staffing shortages, regulatory changes, and periods of significant transition. I’ve also relocated several times and taken on leadership roles in very different environments, from healthcare and higher education to behavioral health and nonprofits.
Each challenge taught me something valuable about adaptability, perseverance, and the importance of building strong teams. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about bringing people together, staying focused on the mission, and finding solutions even when circumstances are difficult.
Looking back, those challenges helped shape me into a stronger and more effective leader.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Throughout my career, I’ve specialized in leading mission-driven organizations in healthcare, behavioral health, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. My expertise is really at the intersection of strategy, operations, fundraising, and community engagement. I enjoy helping organizations grow, navigate change, and strengthen their impact in the communities they serve.
I think I’m best known for being a collaborative leader who can bring people together around a common goal. Whether I’m working with staff, volunteers, donors, board members, or community partners, I focus on building relationships and creating solutions that move an organization forward.
What I’m most proud of is the positive impact I’ve been able to have on vulnerable populations throughout my career, including older adults, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and students who may not have otherwise had access to educational opportunities.
What sets me apart is that I’ve worked across several sectors—healthcare, education, behavioral health, and nonprofits—which gives me a broad perspective. I combine strategic thinking with compassion and a strong focus on results. At the end of the day, I believe leadership is about serving others and helping people reach their full potential.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is people — their dignity, their wellbeing, and their sense of belonging. Throughout my career, whether I was working in behavioral health, higher education, or community nonprofits, the through line has always been the same: every person deserves to be seen, valued, and cared for.
I grew up with a deep sense of service instilled in me, and over 25 years of leadership work has only strengthened that. I’ve sat with veterans struggling with trauma, first-generation students navigating systems that weren’t built for them, and seniors facing isolation and food insecurity. What I’ve learned is that people don’t just need programs — they need connection. They need someone to show up and say, you matter.
That’s why leading Meals That Connect feels like such a natural and meaningful fit for this chapter of my life. We’re not just delivering meals — we’re delivering a daily reminder to hundreds of seniors across San Luis Obispo County that their community hasn’t forgotten them. That kind of work reminds me why I do what I do.
At the end of the day, I measure success not by budgets balanced or programs launched — though those matter too — but by whether the people we serve feel more dignified, more connected, and more supported than they did before. That is what drives me every single morning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mealsthatconnect.org
