Mariyah Saleh aspires to a dual career in law and business

Who says a parent’s influence doesn’t make a difference long-term? HFC student Mariyah Saleh’s mother, Amal, told her she’d make an excellent businesswoman and an excellent attorney. So, Mariyah is pursuing both careers.

“I’ve enjoyed learning about business, including accounting and finance,” said Saleh. “I want to make sure people get a fair shake. I want to be the person they can turn to if they’re having a problem. I hope I can bring them some peace. I’m considering criminal law, immigration law, and corporate law.”

HFC math instructor Royetta Ealba taught Saleh in two of her math classes.

“Mariyah has been an excellent and dedicated student,” said Ealba. “I am excited for her future! Mariyah has set some definite educational goals for herself, and I have every reason to believe she will attain them. I wish her luck as she pursues degrees in business and law.”

Getting involved during college leads to broad goals

The eldest of four, Saleh was born in Detroit and lives in Dearborn. Her sister, Anhar, is in her first semester at HFC. Their mother is an alumna of HFC (then Henry Ford Community College), who earned her associate degree in general studies and later earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wayne State University.

Saleh, who speaks fluent English and conversational Arabic, simultaneously attended HFC and Fordson High School through the Henry Ford Collegiate Academy. She graduated in 2025, earning her associate degree in criminal justice from HFC and a diploma from Fordson. She is also near completion of her associate degree in general studies from HFC.

“During my sophomore year at Fordson, I learned about the HFCA and how I could earn an associate degree in five years,” she said. “I wanted to get experience and get a start on college.”

In the fall, she will continue her education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she will major in political science. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to enroll in the dual degree in law and business administration (JD+MBA) program at U-M.

“I like the community here at HFC; it’s very diverse,” said Saleh. “I’ve made friends with so many people from different backgrounds. I’ve learned more about their backgrounds and have been introduced to a wider reality. HFC taught me so much about professionalism, organizational skills, and time management. I liked the opportunities HFC offered. There’s more opportunities here than in high school, so many different programs.”

Networking and giving back to the community

And Saleh made sure she took advantage of many opportunities. For the 2024-25 academic year, she served as chair of Student Council, succeeding Michelangelo Molinari. During the 2023-24 academic year, she served as vice president of the Student Council.

Saleh was active in the Hawk Hub, where students ask about student organizations and academics. She also participated in public safety training sessions, including the recent “Stop the Bleed” session. She helped bring back the employees vs. students basketball game, where President Russ Kavalhuna led a team of employees in the friendly competition.

“President Kavalhuna was very passionate about it, and we had a great turnout last year. I wanted to do it again,” said Saleh.

In addition to her Student Council role, Saleh serves as vice president of the Arab Student Union, where she assists with organizing programs to promote awareness of Middle Eastern culture on campus. She is also the secretary of HFC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) (Alpha Xi Mu).

Saleh served as the president of the HFC Community Service Club in the 2023-24 academic year. She coordinated visits to a local nursing home for members to interact with senior citizens and bring them some joy. As a fellow for the Campus Vote Project, she played an integral role in the 2024 National Voter Education Week, including serving as the moderator for a panel discussion on voting rights.

At Fordson, she was the treasurer of the National Honor Society, the president of Letters for Rose, and served on the executive board of the Student Council.

“I’ve always been active,” said Saleh. “Networking is important to me. Giving back to community is important to me. I wanted to join as many different clubs and organizations as I could.”

HFC Director of Student Activities Dr. Cassandra Fluker is the Student Council faculty advisor. She has had many opportunities to work with Saleh.

“Mariyah has become one of our most active student leaders,” said Fluker. “She displays a caring spirit, which is admirable and a valuable quality in a leader. Because of her outstanding leadership, she was honored as the Student of the Month for January 2025. Mariyah is dedicated to her academics and understands the importance of student engagement. She is definitely on a path to success.”