“Our Mission is to See You Succeed” Mrs. Tamara Foster-Montgomery Staff Highlight

“I see me in you all, especially with the career clothes closet. I have people looking to say, ‘She got it all together,’” echoes Mrs. Tamara Foster-Montgomery. “They see the car, they see where you live, but they don’t know the story.”
A woman of many hats, Montgomery is a wife, a sister (Beta Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.), an aunt, a stylist, a mentor, and a friend, yet most on Southern University’s campus know her as the Executive Director of the Career Services Center–a place where, in her words, “Our mission is to see you succeed.”
From planning Career Week and the highly anticipated Fall and Spring Career Fairs, to hosting mock interviews, operating the Career’s Clothes Closet, and aiding students in putting their best foot forward, Montgomery takes pride in giving students what was once given to her as a student: access to resources.
“They don’t know the struggle. When I came to Southern, my sister, my mother, my aunts, and my uncles made sure that I had everything that I needed. So the suits… I had them, but they were what we called ‘hand-me-downs,’” says Montgomery, speaking of humble beginnings.
Dressing up every day as a student, Montgomery cherished the items that were passed down to her because she understood the power of giving. “My mother gave me my first Coach bag in college… So when I do the Career Clothes Closet, it’s because I know what it could do (for students).”
Growing up in Columbia, Mississippi, Montgomery’s is a story of tragedy and triumph. “As a child we could not afford the things that we wanted, but God supplied all of our needs.” After tragically losing her father at a young age, Montgomery recalls her mother being her “mentor” and “teacher.”
“She taught me everything that I needed to know about becoming a woman of excellence… how to walk with my head held high and not allowing anyone to disrespect my character.”
Instilled with confidence as a child, Montgomery is someone who has never lost her faith—acquiring her first Bible from her mother at the tender age of 9. “I carry it with me everywhere I go,” she said, including in her office, where it can be found open on her desk as a daily guide.
Today, Montgomery’s duty is to pour into students just as her family members poured into her: “Someone did it for me.” From her perspective, what she does is more than teaching students how to dress professionally or what to put on their resumes, it’s about touching students in a way that gives them a better understanding of who they are. In Montgomery’s own words, “Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing a student uplifted and me taking the time to help them be their best self.”
Despite her honest intentions, Montgomery understands that there may be some misconceptions surrounding staff members in high level positions, such as hers, from students. She explained how some may feel intimidated by her title until getting a chance to speak with her personally: “That’s the chance and opportunity for students to see me on another level… the fun side,” she stated. “Some students don’t see that side… or they may have the wrong perception because they haven’t had the opportunity to stop and talk.”
During the 2023 football season, the Career Services Center hosted a series of tailgating events that welcomed students to connect with faculty, peers, and alumni. This served as an opportunity for students to get to know Montgomery on a more personal level–a side the Southern alumna wishes more people got to witness. “I wish that I could have these types of conversations with all the students, but if I don’t know their struggle, I can’t make them feel better.”
Empowering students is an important part of Montgomery’s ‘Why?’ when it comes to her position in Career Services. At the most recent Career Fair, held on February 21, 2024, students were presented with over 120 opportunities from different companies. Amongst them were Exxon Mobile, Hershey’s, and Coca-Cola, to name a few. When asked about the planning, Montgomery stated, “There is a lot of hard work, dedication, love, and commitment that goes into the planning of the career fair.” She emphasizes the value of teamwork and dedication by clarifying, “This is a team effort that involves the entire campus, alumni and volunteers… If we don’t have the resources, we don’t complain, we go get it.”
It’s safe to say that Montgomery’s efforts have not been wasted as hundreds of students observed the exhibition, with Keith Jackson, a sophomore Finance major, stating, “I’m very happy to be here (at the career fair) today. It’s a lot of great opportunities.”
From attire workshops, to resume reviews, it’s Montgomery’s goal to ensure that when students leave Southern University, they are well prepared, not only for a professional career, but for the world. “I look at it from your (students) perspective and not just my view… We have to meet you where you are, and it’s important to me that I give you the tools that you need.”
When it comes to advice, Montgomery encourages students to stay focused, study hard, and “Get the job.”