DEARBORN — Brian Mosallam set a new precedent last week when he was elected by over 1.9 million Michigan residents on the Michigan State University (MSU) Board of Trustees, becoming the first Arab American Muslim to win a statewide election on a Democratic slate. The position couldn’t seem more fitting for Mosallam, who was previously a student at the University. During his time there he became co-captain of the football team and graduated with honors after receiving his business of science degree in engineering arts in 1996.

Mosallam’s close ties to MSU comes as no surprise to those who might know him.  He has never been a stranger to the education system. Growing up in east Dearborn, he attended Fordson High School where his involvement grew from more than just being a student. As the class president and captain of the football team who was also involved in track, he quickly set up his own path to future success. In 1992, he received a football scholarship to play for MSU.

Mosallam says his time at MSU paved an avenue into a completely different world outside of Dearborn. It helped him make friends and build a network for himself that would end up coming in handy later. At MSU, he became a District IV Academic All-American as well as a three time Academic All-Big Ten, which meant he was also exceeding greatly in his academics.

“MSU was the perfect fit for me. It was a wonderful, diverse environment that allowed me to meet so many different people from so many different backgrounds,” Mosallam stated.

After his time at MSU, Mosallam became a financial professional, working for AXA Advisors LLC, where he became one of the company’s top producers in the country. He currently handles retirement accounts in over 15 different cities. In 2008, during an AXA Advisors award ceremony, he was awarded as the Agent of the Year.  Mosallam says the field is not easy, in fact, it has an estimated 90 percent failure rate.

“It’s very hard to find clients and I’ve seen a lot of people come and go in this field. Without question, the network I made from Michigan State Football has contributed greatly. It opened up every door for me and put me on the map,” Mosallam added.

He says the Arab American community continues to show him great support. One way he prefers to give back to the community is through an organization called the Dearborn Schools Education Foundation, currently serving as the chairman. The foundation, established in 1992,  has raised and returned over $1,500,000 to Dearborn schools through teacher grant requests. They hold two events a year, a golf outing and a Mardi Gras event in order to raise money for equipment needed in Dearborn’s schools. In the past, they have donated promethean boards, band equipment, computers, and books among just some of the items.

As a member on MSU’s Board of Trustees, Mosallam is one of eight people who will be responsible for the school’s budget, transactions, projects and policies. Essentially it means he has a hand in running a $2 billion corporation. Mosallam says he is privileged to have this opportunity, because the position allows him to stay close to what he is really passionate about.

“I’m passionate about education and children. This position is everything I’ve wanted from an elected position. It hits every sector that I love. I want to thank the 1.9 million residents of Michigan who voted for me…I am the luckiest guy in the world,” Mosallam stated.

Mosallam says he’s thankful for the support of the Arab American community and hopes that his win, along with the victory of 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey, will open up avenues for other Arab Americans to seek positions. He says he’s noticed a trend from the recent elections that could lead to a brighter future for the Arab American community.

“You see our younger generation dragging parents to the polls to vote for Sam Salamey, you see them engaged and energized and leaving the tribal politics at home. It’s very encouraging and I’m very proud of this upcoming generation,” Mosallam stated. “When it comes to politics, Arab Americans need to realize that we are not in the Middle East. It doesn’t matter if you are Lebanese, Iraqi, Jordanian… it doesn’t matter if you are Muslim, Christian or Jewish,  that stuff doesn’t matter in this country. We as a community have to stay engaged and we have to invest in this arena. We won a state wide election, so there is hope for the community,” Mosallam stated.

Mosallam says he hopes he can motivate other Arab Americans in the community to start thinking outside of the box. He encourages the younger generation to not hesitate on opportunities such as going away for college, stating that if young Arab Americans want a taste of the real world, then they need to see what is out there.

“The world does not look like Dearborn. For our kids to compete in a society, they have to learn what’s outside of Dearborn and what’s outside of the Arab community. Our roots, culture and foundation will always be at home, so our kids going away shouldn’t be a problem because they will always have that faith they’ve developed over the years. No matter where I go, I will always be a son of Dearborn.”