Dr. Gomez has worked with children and families for 15 years, most recently leading a team of clinicians as the Director of Clinical Innovation at Momentous Institute. She is a bilingual licensed psychologist who has worked with the organization since June 2013, as well as in her own private practice since 2014. 

“I grew up in a Latino family on the South Side of Chicago,” says Dr. Gomez. “Not only was I the first person in my family to get a doctoral degree, but I was also the first to even go to college. When we talk about changing the odds for children at Momentous Institute, I know deeply what it means because I am living proof of what overcoming those odds can do.”

“I believe wholeheartedly in Momentous Institute’s mission because I’ve practiced it, and I’ve lived it. And I could not be more excited to lead this incredible organization into the future as we continue to change the odds for children and families.”

Dr. Gomez is an active mental health thought leader with published work in The Family Psychologist. Her expertise has been featured in Parents Magazine, Univision, Telemundo, Dallas Morning News, NBC 5 and more. She speaks widely on the topic of mental health and has presented at conferences such as Texas Psychological Association, National Latino Psychological Association, Texas Pediatric Association and Aspen Challenge.

Dr. Gomez serves as a clinical and assessment supervisor for Momentous Institute’s training program, accredited by the American Psychological Association, and oversees doctoral and post-doctoral psychology fellows. Since 2017, she’s also served on the mental health committee for the City of Dallas’ Welcoming Communities & Immigrant Affairs Committee. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology and master’s degree in counseling psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Gomez is the first Latina to lead Momentous Institute.

For more than a century, Salesmanship Club of Dallas has provided unwavering dedication to changing the odds for kids. Today, under the Salesmanship Club of Dallas’ strategic direction and in partnership with support from foundations, corporations and hundreds of individual donors, Momentous Institute is a leading expert on children’s education and mental health.

“On behalf of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jessica Gomez as executive director of Momentous Institute,” said Robert Smith, Chair, Momentous Institute board of directors. “Dr. Gomez brings deep expertise as a published thought leader and psychologist, as well as an intimate understanding of our mission through her direct mental health work with children and families. She has a stellar track record as an innovative leader, and it was clear through our search process that she is the perfect leader to usher in the next era of Momentous Institute’s work to change the odds for children.”

About Momentous Institute

Momentous Institute innovates at the intersection of mental health and education to change the odds for children. Momentous Institute offers high-quality mental health services focused on treating childhood trauma, as well as education services, including its nationally acclaimed Momentous School, an elementary school that prioritizes academic achievement on par with students’ mental well-being.

Momentous Institute provides unique solutions that integrate mental health best practices into schools across the country to positively impact American education. Currently, it offers training, coaching, in-depth partnerships with schools, on-demand educational videos, classroom items, the annual Changing the Odds conference, and its social emotional learning curriculum: Changemakers.