Tamour Kousha ’05

“I will forever be a strong advocate for Montclair State University,” says Tamour Kousha ’05, while reminiscing on his time as an undergraduate student. Tamour graduated from Montclair State University with a BS in Accounting in 2005. In July 2018, he was named the Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Science Center, a non-profit interactive science museum and learning center located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Liberty Science Center is one of the largest non-profit organizations in New Jersey, where more than 750,000 students, teachers and parents visit each year.

Before joining Liberty Science Center, Tamour served as Chief Financial Officer for New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC), a non-profit community development and social service agency located in Paterson, New Jersey. Tamour also serves as a trustee and chair of the finance committee for the Community Charter School of Paterson, a 900 student charter school which was founded by NJCDC.

For many students, choosing a major field of study can be a difficult decision. Tamour began taking accounting classes in high school and was encouraged by his teacher to pursue a career in accounting. He decided to major in accounting at Montclair State University and his interest in the field grew stronger as he progressed through his academic career.

As an accounting major at Montclair State University, Tamour was part of the Accounting Society, an SGA Class III organization consisting of future accounting professionals. In addition to being a member of the Accounting Society, Tamour was able to further increase his knowledge in the field by taking part in internships and work opportunities provided by Montclair State University’s career services. During his junior year, he had the opportunity to intern for a large fashion company as an accounting intern. Tamour also worked with a recruiting agency which placed him at a company where he assisted the Controller with various accounting and administrative functions. “These opportunities were extremely helpful. They allowed me to gain hands-on experience in my field, which boosted my resume and helped me tremendously during interviews with potential employers”.

As many undergraduates experience, Tamour often found it difficult to balance school and work. He generally worked 2-3 jobs while taking 15-18 credits each semester. While this was challenging for him, it did teach him how to properly manage his time, multi-task and prioritize his work as well as having patience in the midst of a hectic work and school schedule.

Without a doubt, Tamour credits his education and experience at Montclair State University as the launching point for a successful career in accounting. As he puts it, “I always felt that Montclair State wanted me to succeed as a student, graduate with a quality education and enter the workforce with the tools needed to succeed. The School of Business provided mock interview sessions, career fairs and on-campus interviews with accounting firms, which helped me land multiple job offers prior to graduating.”

As for his favorite memory of the University? Tamour holds a special place in his heart for Montclair State University, not only for the exceptional education he received, but for being the place where he met Gina Kousha ‘05, his wife of 9 years.

To current undergraduate students, he offers this piece of advice: “Never stop learning, throw yourself out of your comfort zone and always give back – whether it’s volunteering, mentoring or lending a helping hand to someone who needs it.”