Difference Makers
UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.
After graduating from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I attended the University of Michigan Law School. Law was a natural extension of my Anthropology studies which also allowed me to continue advocating for feminism, a passion born from my Women's and Gender Studies coursework. In law school, I worked for the Human Trafficking Clinic, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, and LAF, a legal aid provider in Chicago. I also served as Vice President of the Women Law Students Association, and received the Merit Award in Catharine MacKinnon's Sex Equality course. After graduating cum laude, I was accepted into the Attorney General's Honors Program, serving as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Detroit Immigration Court. Currently, I serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan. I joined the office in October 2018, and am a member of the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Some students make a difference through performing volunteer work for student or community organizations, while others make an impact in the classroom. Michael El-Zein is one of these students, striving always to set a good example for others. “I always come to class prepared,” says Michael and “I try to actively engage in discussion with my professors and peers. I think that I have made an impression on my peers through my class contributions; I feel that due to my young age, academic accomplishments, and fast pace, I have set a good example for my fellow students at UM-Dearborn.”
Michael’s positive attitude and motivation in the classroom have paid off. A student with an exceptional academic record, Michael made the Dean’s List and received University Honors multiple times, and was named a James B. Angell Scholar. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys playing the drums for various bands and has appeared at venues throughout southeast Michigan. In addition, he has recorded albums with some of the groups.
