National Leadership Program, Fall 2023
Sara Sharma
Sara Sharma (she/her) was a Faith Inclusion and Belonging Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Fall 2023. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Sharma recently graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While in college, she was a part of leadership programs like The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and consistently made the Dean’s List. She intends to get her PhD in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Sharma is multilingual and multicultural. She was born and raised in Amman, Jordan before moving to the United States at age 13. She is an Indian, Jordanian- Palestinian. Having a diverse background allows her to understand the issues that immigrants face, seek solutions, and educate others about the inaccurate stereotypes displayed in the media.
Sharma is an activist for women’s rights and has been part of programs like Women of Tomorrow. She believes in activism as it creates a community where people can feel less alone and can create change. She hopes to impact the world by spreading awareness about the mental health issues that underrepresented people face. In her career as a psychologist, she wants to create a safe environment where people can feel like they can ask for help. She also plans to use music therapy and art therapy in her practice to treat patients who have trouble expressing themselves. Her philosophy is if people want to see a change in the world, they must start with themselves.
