Alumnus Mustapha Hammoud serves Dearborn in two different careers

By the time he finished high school, Dearborn City Councilman Mustapha Hammoud already had 52 credits completed at HFC.

“I graduated from Edsel Ford High School. I was also dual-enrolled at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) and the Dearborn Center for Math, Science, & Technology,” recalled Hammoud.

After graduation, Hammoud enrolled at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, which he attended on scholarships. At UM-Dearborn, he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He speaks fluent English and Arabic and is learning French.

Taking classes at HFC prepared him well for UM-Dearborn.

“The transition was much easier, thanks to the fact that I already understood how a college campus and classes worked,” said Hammoud.

He spoke about his early drive to challenge himself academically by taking classes at the College.

“I felt that there were more topics offered here than advanced placement classes. Also, I liked the idea that I could get guaranteed credit for my work here instead of everything hinging on just one exam,” explained Hammoud. “I was able to directly correlate the classes at HFC with electrical engineering classes at UM-Dearborn. I knew that I was getting the right number of credits by taking courses here. HFC has a very clear checklist for its transfer agreements with UM-Dearborn.”

Gateway to greatness, including those with humble beginnings

A lifelong Dearborn resident and first-generation American, Hammoud credits his upbringing and community for shaping his commitment to public service. He is the eldest of two and is married to Celene, an ER nurse. His father, Abed Hammoud, is an attorney who teaches criminal procedure at HFC. His mother, Mona Hammoud, is a regional manager and senior vice president at PNC Bank and also an alumna of HFC.

“Education is so important to my family. Teaching has been in my family for generations. My grandfather was a teacher in Lebanon, my mother’s side of the family are teachers, my father teaches at HFC, my aunt teaches at the University of Michigan Medical School,” he said. “When my parents came here, they had next to nothing. Schools like HFC provided an education for most of my family members, who did very well as a result. My entire family was able to get where they are today thanks to taking classes here. It goes to show that even with humble beginnings, people must realize a community college is a gateway to so many things in life, as long as they’re able to do something they’re passionate about, so that it will actually grow their futures.”

Hammoud has built a successful engineering career at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, where he has worked since 2014. He completed a two-year work-study co-op with Ford during his time at UM-Dearborn and was a member of the Ford College Graduate Program early in his career.

His passion for problem-solving started early in life.

“Ever since I was young, I always loved building things. I love understanding the process of how things work. I always knew I’d go into some kind of engineering,” recalled Hammoud. “I ended up receiving the most scholarships in electrical engineering. I’m passionate about programming, so it was a natural fit.”

Making a difference in the city he loves

In 2020, Hammoud ran for Dearborn City Council and was elected to a 4-year term. He was recently reelected to a second term beginning in January 2026.

“The City of Dearborn was undergoing a big change at the time. I felt that they could use someone with a STEM background, as there were three open seats. I felt a responsibility to give back to the city that raised me and to help move it confidently into the future,” he said. “I’m thankful voters are continuing to see the work that I’m doing and that the administration is doing, and they continue to put their trust in me to represent their best interests, especially bringing in new ideas and modernizing the city.”

“I really enjoy working with Mustapha. He is a very intelligent and responsible leader. He treats everyone with dignity and respect. Not only is Mustapha my colleague, he is also my friend. The City of Dearborn is very fortunate to have him as a council member,” said fellow HFC alumnus and City Councilman Gary Enos.

Hammoud is excited about plans for his second term.

“I’m very passionate about what the city is planning,” he said. “I serve on the Master Plan Steering Committee. Our highest priority is to deliver a forward-looking city master plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of Dearborn residents. We have been speaking with many stakeholders in Dearborn including residents, schools, colleges, businesses, to provide us with feedback that will help us work toward the best outcome.”

HFC alumna Leslie Herrick, president of the Rotary Club of Dearborn and Hammoud’s colleague on the City Council, has worked with him for several years.

“Mustapha is very energetic,” said Herrick. “His engineering experience at Ford and deep interest in city planning give him a valuable perspective in discussions, particularly as the Council considers the impact and needs of the city’s largest employer while ensuring decisions reflect the concerns of the broader community.”

Being a politician and an engineer represents the best of both worlds for Hammoud.

“City government is a personal passion project that allows me to feel fulfilled,” he said. “One thing I love about the City Council is it’s part-time, so I’m able to continue to pursue my career at Ford. I’m grateful that my work allows me to contribute to innovations that shape transportation on a global scale.”