Maryan Osman

Maryan is a San Diego native and a daughter of Somali refugees. She first aimed to be a researcher, studying biology and biochemistry at San Diego State University. Seeing firsthand the injustices that families like hers faced, she left science to more directly focus on addressing systemic barriers and oppression. Since then, Maryan has spent her career investing in our people, centering equity and justice while redefining what leadership can and should look like. She has held various roles in nonprofits and campaigns to more recently government, where she served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Community Empowerment for San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera.

Maryan now currently serves as the Director of Programs & Learning at Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties. With nearly a decade of experience in advocacy, organizing, leadership development, event planning, and systems change, she is excited to help shape the ecosystem that is philanthropy.