Recognizing Middle Eastern, Arab, and Chaldean Heritages: ODEIB Student Features
Medina Elzayat (3L) serves as President of the Arab American Law Student Association (AALSA) at Detroit Mercy Law. She was inspired to attend law school and pursue a legal career by her late grandmother as well as her mentor, who is a Detroit Mercy Law alumna and co-founder of AALSA.
“Being an Arab American woman does not come without its challenges in the field,” she commented. While Elzayat will be a first-generation lawyer, she met a number of Arab American attorneys through her father’s work connections with the Wayne County Sherriff’s Office.
Elzayat joined AALSA during her first week of classes. “Everyone was so welcoming and helpful,” she said about the experience. AALSA also supports students with scholarships and is planning a food truck fundraiser after Ramadan.
Tina Toma (3L) serves as President of the Chaldean American Law Student Association (CALSA) at Detroit Mercy Law. She is a co-founder of the organization and hopes to foster and build community, especially for those who are first-generation Americans.
“Chaldeans have such a rich culture and one of the oldest languages,” stated Toma. Her parents immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s. She recalls learning English with her mom, during her elementary years. Her brother, Pauls Toma (2L), is also a student at Detroit Mercy Law.
Toma chose Detroit Mercy Law because of the school’s Jesuit and Mercy values and strategic location. She is currently serving as a judicial intern and walks to the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan before and after class.
Simon Alnajjar (3L) is a Dean’s Fellow at Detroit Mercy Law. He chose Detroit Mercy Law because “they showed a lot of belief in me from the beginning, before I even stepped foot in as a student…as a Dean’s Fellow I was connected with a mentor and other people who could help me be successful along the way… I’m still connected to my mentor, who is also Chaldean, and I wouldn’t trade that relationship for the world.”
Following the advice of his mentor, Alnajjar applied to the summer associate program at Howard & Howard, a large business and corporate law firm with offices throughout the United States. He received an offer to join the firm’s program and will continue as an associate at the firm with a focus on transactional law after graduation.