One of the important things that can happen in someone’s journey through higher education is illustrated by Sumia Saleh’s time on campus. At first, a shy and quiet individual off to the side and wondering if they belong, but who then becomes a spirited leader devoted to, in her words, “lifting others up. Helping them see what they're capable of, and creating a campus community where everyone feels empowered to explore, learn and thrive.” 

Getting Involved

As Sumia found her footing on campus, she did so by becoming involved in, and sometimes leading, a variety of organizations. She has acted as president of the Google Developer Group on Campus, chair of the Student Organization Allocation Council (SOAC) and treasurer of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.

She was also part of the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Computer Science, Women in Cybersecurity, and served as the Director of Inclusion for Student Government. “These experiences brought me closer to both students and faculty, and taught me how meaningful mentorship, collaboration and support can be,” she said. “I genuinely enjoy sharing knowledge and connecting students with opportunities, and it's incredible to see them gain confidence and succeed.”

Spreading the Tech

As president of the Google Developer Group on Campus, Sumia was responsible for putting on the Hack Dearborn, a 24-hour hackathon.

In this role, Sumia obtained financial sponsors, managed the budget and led logistics and planning. She was also described by faculty advisors as someone who valued inclusion and learning rather than the competitive aspects of the event.

“She noticed several first-time participants who were overwhelmed and unsure of where to start,” recalled Hafiz Malik, professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Sumia sat with them, walked them through their ideas and helped connect them with teammates and mentors. She checked in throughout the event, not because it was required, but because she genuinely cared about their experience.”

Opening up engineering and technology to broader audiences was a key goal for Sumia while directing Hack Dearborn. “Creating an environment where people are able to grow, learn, and foster bigger connections and foster more passion for learning and the tech space itself means a lot,” Sumia said. “I want to be there to support people who don't feel like they belong.”

Culture Change

Sumia also understood that engaging more people and getting them involved would sometimes require looking at new ways of doing things. Her talent for developing new ideas was most prominent while serving as chair of the SOAC and as the director of inclusion in Student Government.

“Sumia flipped the culture of the SOAC on its head,” said Alex Bakhaus, the director of the Office of Student Life. “Under her leadership, SOAC has maintained a full board, built stronger relationships among board members, and challenged the status quo that was previously maintained.”

In her role as director of inclusion, Sumia organized cultural weeks designed for different cultural organizations on campus to showcase who they are and what they represent. Through this programming, she helped develop many new relationships and collaborations. She also led National Engineers Week celebrations on campus, bringing students together through competitions, workshops and collaborative activities.

Finding the Balance

With all that Sumia has accomplished at UM-Dearborn, she credits her family for supporting her through so many activities, including events she was managing.  “Even though they're not a member of the community, they always love to show up,” she said. “They came to Hack Dearborn, they came to Engineering Week, and knowing that they are showing up for me meant the most.”

As Sumia moves forward in her life and profession, the transformational experiences she has had at UM-Dearborn, where she excelled in balancing her technological skills with the desire to lift up others, will persist. “I am passionate about using engineering to solve real problems while creating opportunities for others to succeed,” she said. “My career goal is to work in a field where I can combine technical skills with leadership, mentorship and community engagement, especially supporting more women in engineering and technology.”