Sadiq Omer ’24 says his journey to a master's in engineering became a reality after continued support from ODUGlobal staff as an international student from Iraq.
For as long as he can remember, Sadiq Omer ’24 has wanted to rebuild.
Growing up in Kurdistan, a semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq, Omer was shaped by the aftermath of the 1988 Anfal genocide—military attacks against the Kurdish people, including against his family members, led by Saddam Hussein.
“I’ve always felt a deep need to help people,” said Omer, an Old Dominion University engineering graduate.
With a passion for engineering, Omer found his path first as a student in his home country and now as a graduate and adjunct professor at ODU. He’s also working as a civil engineer in Suffolk near campus.
Omer’s journey started with his undergraduate degree from Sulaimani University in Kurdistan. He later worked at Cihan University of Sulaimaniya when the university partnered with Old Dominion on distance learning programs.
The collaboration opened the door for Omer to start taking online classes while in the Middle East with plans of moving to Virginia to pursue his master’s in engineering. He struggled, however, to receive his student visa due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.
During the wait, Omer said ODUGlobal staff, particularly Mitsue Shiokawa, were instrumental in helping him through school, helping him obtain scholarship money and supporting his pursuit of a visa.
“I was half a world away, and the staff was very supportive,” Omer said. “They were always there when I had a question or needed anything. I encourage every student to take advantage of the resources offered to you. If you’re studying online, connect with your advisor because they are there to help you.”
Omer eventually moved to Virginia in 2022 and completed his engineering degree on campus. He was able to bring his parents from Kurdistan to Virginia for commencement.
ODU’s career development center, which is available to aid all online students, helped Omer fine-tune his resume and interview skills. The preparation led to an internship working on a major tunnel expansion project on Interstate 64 in Hampton Roads. He also landed a job as a civil engineer in Suffolk, Virginia, while serving as an adjunct professor at ODU.
“(Omer) was an absolute pleasure to work with,” said Keith Krepcho, a student success director with ODUGlobal. “He was always ready for a new project and entered every meeting with a smile and a great attitude. He consistently exceeded my expectations, and I count ODUGlobal as being lucky to have him as a representative of its programs and institution.”
