Although she grew up in southeast Michigan, Rebecca Karam’s dreams have always had a more global vision.
Having graduated from UM-Dearborn in December 2011, her long-term goal is to become an international officer for the U.S. Department of State in the Middle East and North Africa, aiding immigration streams to and from the U.S.
“I hope that in the future I can affect change on a global scale in my field of sociology, immigration and Middle East studies,” she said. “Being a student of such contentious subjects requires one to be a cultural ambassador, spreading cultural awareness and understanding in order to make progress.”
Rebecca built a strong resume at UM-Dearborn that highlighted two of her passions: global affairs and sociology. She studied abroad in Beirut, Lebanon, completed an independent ethnography study in sociology, volunteered with Bridging Communities, Inc., an organization in southwest Detroit that supports the rehabilitation of foreclosed properties, was a delegate on the award-winning Model Arab League and served as vice president of the Sociology Club.
Her commitment to her studies and extracurricular activities made her stand out amongst her peers. Rebecca, who graduated with a 3.84 GPA, received the Chancellor’s Medallion award in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters during the commencement ceremony. Her faculty advisers describe her as “a terrific student who will accomplish great things in life,” and “an independent thinker interested in social and political issues.”