University of Michigan president condemns graduation speech praising pro-Palestinian student activists despite overwhelming support from crowd
May 8th, 20260 ANN ARBOR — The administration of the University of Michigan needed only a few hours to demonstrate what critics described as complete deference to pro-Israel pressure at the expense of free speech, after the university president swiftly condemned remarks delivered by a faculty speaker during last Saturday’s spring commencement...
Maysam Alie-Bazzi named chief deputy superintendent of Michigan schools
May 8th, 20260 DEARBORN — Veteran Dearborn educator Maysam Alie-Bazzi has been selected to serve as chief deputy superintendent for the Michigan Department of Education, marking another major milestone for Arab American representation in Michigan’s educational leadership. Michigan State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko announced that he has...
Palestinian American families face threats after cultural night incident at Beverly Elementary School
May 8th, 20260 BIRMINGHAM — Two Arab American families in Oakland County say they have faced ongoing harassment and threats after officials from the school district attended by their children publicly described their conduct as “discriminatory” and “anti-Semitic” following their participation in a school cultural event. The families, both of...
Mike Esseily named first Arab American superintendent of the Dearborn Public Schools
May 8th, 20260 DEARBORN — In a historic move, the Dearborn Board of Education voted Monday night to appoint Mike Esseily, executive director of special populations for Dearborn Public Schools, as the district’s new superintendent, making him the first Arab and first Muslim to lead Michigan’s third-largest school district. Trustees Amer Zahr,...
Dearborn School Board to vote Monday on new superintendent
May 1st, 20260 DEARBORN – The Dearborn Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Monday, May 4, to vote on selecting a new superintendent for the Dearborn Public Schools from among two finalists: Mike Esseily, executive director of special populations in the district, and Moussa Hamka, assistant superintendent of human resources for Grosse...
DEARBORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING
April 25th, 20260 DEARBORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026-2027 BUDGET PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on May 11, 2026, at 7 o'clock p.m., at the Ten Eyck Administration Building, 18700 Audette, Dearborn, MI. 48124, and the Board of Education of Dearborn Public Schools will hold a public hearing to consider the district's proposed...
Dearborn schools name three finalists for superintendent; community input to shape final decision
April 18th, 20260 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education has selected three finalists in its search for the district’s next superintendent following a special meeting held Saturday, April 18. The finalists are Thomas Ahart, former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools; Mike Esseily, executive director of special populations...
Six candidates advance in Dearborn Schools’ superintendent search, final selection on May 4
April 17th, 20260 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education has selected six candidates to move forward in its search for the district’s next superintendent, narrowing a pool of 23 applicants during a special meeting held April 9. The candidates — representing a mix of internal leadership, regional administrators and out-of-state...
David Knezek named seventh president of Henry Ford College after national search
April 17th, 20260 DEARBORN — The Board of Trustees of Henry Ford College announced during a public meeting on April 10 the appointment of David Knezek, chief operating officer at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as the college’s next president, succeeding interim president Dr. Lori Gonko. Knezek, a former Michigan state senator...
Lawsuit targets Henry Ford College Board over alleged secret deliberations in presidential search
March 27th, 20260 A newly filed lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court alleges that the Henry Ford College Board of Trustees violated Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) during its ongoing search for a new college president. The complaint, filed Thursday by political activist and Highland Park resident Robert Davis, centers on the Board’s use of a...
Gonko’s exit leaves four candidates in Henry Ford College’s presidential search
March 20th, 20260 DEARBORN — The list of finalists for the presidency of Henry Ford College in Dearborn has narrowed to four candidates following the withdrawal of Interim President Dr. Lori Gonko, who was selected on Wednesday to lead Macomb Community College, effective in June. With Gonko’s departure, the final slate now includes Wayne County...Dearborn School Board retroactively corrects search violations, approves five HFC presidential finalists
March 6th, 20260 Following a report published by The Arab American News in its previous issue detailing administrative violations in the search process for a new president of Henry Ford College, the Dearborn Board of Education sought during a special meeting held Monday to correct some procedural irregularities and address three violations of the...
Civil rights lawyer Amir Makled runs for University of Michigan Board of Regents on affordability, access and free speech
March 6th, 20260 Local attorney Amir Makled hopes to make history as the first Arab and Muslim American to serve on the University of Michigan Board of Regents, saying his decision to run is driven not by personal ambition but by his belief in the importance of equal representation within public institutions. The Lebanese American lawyer is seeking the...Suspicious backroom maneuvering and administrative violations threaten to delay Henry Ford College’s presidential search
February 27th, 20261 As the Dearborn Board of Education prepares to ratify the final list of candidates for the presidency of Henry Ford College at a special meeting scheduled for Monday, March 2, the selection process for the new president of the Dearborn-based community college faces the possibility of collapse and a complete restart. An alleged breach of...
Prominent attorney Shereef Akeel seeks seat on Wayne State University Board of Governors
February 27th, 20260 Arab American attorney Shereef Akeel does not hide his enthusiasm for adding a new chapter to his distinguished career defending civil rights, the law and the Constitution — this time by running for a seat on the Board of Governors at Wayne State University in Detroit. Akeel is competing for the Democratic Party nomination at its......
Richard A. Bierschbach named 14th president of Wayne State University
February 27th, 20260 DETROIT – The Wayne State University Board of Governors has unanimously elected Richard A. Bierschbach, J.D., as the university’s 14th president, effective immediately. Bierschbach has led the university on an interim basis since September 17. Prior to that appointment, he served for more than eight years as dean of Wayne State...
Wyandotte School Board member Cindy Kinney resigns following anti-Muslim social media post
February 27th, 20260 WYANDOTTE — Board of Education member Cindy Kinney has resigned following intense public criticism for sharing an anti-Muslim post on social media. Kinney, who served on the board for 12 years, stepped down after widespread backlash from residents and civil rights organizations. The controversy erupted after she reposted an image on......
Dearborn School Board launches search for new superintendent with ambitious timeline
February 6th, 20260 DERABORN – The search for a new superintendent of the Dearborn Public Schools officially began last week, following the departure of former superintendent Glenn Maleyko, who moved on to lead education efforts at the state level after a decade marked by strong performance in Dearborn. As a first major step, the Dearborn Board of...
Preliminary Henry Ford College presidential shortlist excludes Arab American candidates, raising concerns
February 6th, 20262 Serious questions about transparency and selection procedures have emerged after the advisory selection committee charged with recommending a permanent president for Henry Ford College narrowed its field to 10 candidates from more than 120 applicants, without including a single Arab American, despite more than a dozen Arab American...
Dearborn Schools Interim Superintendent Lamis Srour explains why she will not seek permanent post
February 6th, 20260 DEARBORN — Interim superintendent Lamis Srour said she will not apply to keep her position on a permanent basis as the Dearborn Public Schools opens its search for a successor to former superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. Maleyko left his position to become the state superintendent. He was hired in late December to replace longtime...
Dearborn Board of Education elects new leadership, prepares for a busy year of major decisions
January 16th, 20260 The Dearborn Board of Education opened its meeting on Monday, January 12, by holding its annual elections, which resulted in the election of Jamal Aljahmi as board president, Nasri Sobh as vice president, Amer Zahr as secretary and Ali K. Bazzi as treasurer. The election and reorganization session took place before the board’s regular......
Dearborn Public Schools move toward new bond proposal to fix aging buildings
January 9th, 20260 DEARBORN — Nearly seven years after voters rejected a bond proposal to fund Dearborn Public Schools, the district began discussions this week on possible options to secure hundreds of millions of dollars needed to repair, rebuild and modernize its aging and deteriorating infrastructure, amid signs that the school board is leaning...
Lamis Srour appointed as interim superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools
November 14th, 20250 DEARBORN – Lamis Srour was appointed interim superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools at the regular November Board of Education meeting on Monday, Nov. 10. Srour has served as the executive director of student achievement over the Edsel Ford High School track since 2022. In addition to overseeing a dozen schools, she also leads......
Wayne State Medical School Dean Wael Sakr returning after six weeks on leave
September 26th, 20250 DETROIT — After more than a month on paid administrative leave, Wayne State University School of Medicine Dean Dr. Wael Sakr will return to campus Monday, September 29, according to a university announcement. In an email to faculty Thursday, Dr. Bernard Costello, WSU’s senior vice president for health affairs, confirmed Sakr’s...
Wayne State University president resigns as student group calls for medical school dean’s reinstatement
September 19th, 20250 Students defend Medical School Dean Wael Sakr In developments that reflect escalating tensions inside Wayne State University, the student group Medical Students for Justice in Palestine issued a solidarity statement supporting the dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Wael Sakr, following what they described as the arbitrary decision by......
