Inam Mustafa’s Honors experience: demystifying bioweapons and pursuing social justice

Wwhen she graduated from high school, Inam Mustafa didn’t plan to continue her education at HFC.

“I always envisioned myself going to a big university away from the city I grew up in – Dearborn,” said Mustafa. “But when the reality of college expenses hit me, I knew I would regret rushing off to a university so quickly.”

So Mustafa looked into HFC. Having taken classes at HFC as a dual-enrolled student while attending Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights, she was familiar with the College. One person who cemented Mustafa’s decision to enroll was Henry Ford II Honors Program Director Dr. Adam Hazlett.

“Dr. Hazlett painted a perfect picture of what my experience as an honors student at HFC would be, and that made me want to commit to HFC,” said Mustafa. “Being a part of the Honors Program enhanced my experiences and opportunities as a community college student. I am forever grateful for making the choice to start my college experience at HFC.”

A passion for social justice

Born in Dearborn, Mustafa is the eldest of three and lives in Dearborn Heights. Fluent in English and Arabic, Mustafa will graduate from HFC this winter, earning her associate degree in liberal arts. Although she has been accepted to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Wayne State University, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and University of Detroit Mercy, she is still deciding where she will transfer to complete her undergraduate education. She plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in psychology.

“What most inspired me to study political science was my passion for social justice,” said Mustafa. “Growing up in a world where we witness injustice happening to innocent people daily drew me closer to wanting to be a source of freeing people from injustice. I’m still deciding if I will do this by going to law school or getting a Ph.D. in political science. Maybe both? All I know is I want to impact the lives of people who might need an advocate.”

In addition to the Honors Program, Mustafa is the online editor of The Mirror News, HFC’s student-run newspaper, and the Community Service Officer of the Muslim Student Association (MSA).

“I try to be an active student at HFC and volunteer at every opportunity,” she said. “It is an honor to give back to our community.”

A profound impact

Hazlett is impressed by Mustafa’s drive.

“Inam is a bright, studious honors scholar with a bright future,” he said. “Her big smile and positive attitude are contagious and welcomed. Her drive and passion for her subject are also well known in the Honors Program. She is a model student for our Transfer Bridges to the Humanities @ U-M program. She proves the quality of students we have here at HFC.”

Another HFC instructor who has had a profound impact on Mustafa is Dr. Peter Kim, who teaches English and serves as the faculty advisor of The Mirror News.

“Dr. Kim is one who shaped my experience at HFC with the endless opportunities he pushed me to take,” she said. “He has believed in me so much more than I did myself. He made me aware of U-M’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and the Engelhardt Social Justice Fellowship, where I was able to apply my passion for social justice in many different ways. Without the guidance and courage of these professors, I doubt I would have been able to accomplish much during my time at HFC – that is how strong their impact was to me.”

Kim taught Mustafa in two of his classes.

“Inam has been a true delight and an inspiration to her classmates,” said Kim. “She is poised, smart, diligent, kind, considerate, and has a strong interest in social justice. I know she is headed for great success in whatever she decides to pursue.”

A Mellon Scholar and Engelhardt Fellow

Last year, Mustafa was a Mellon Scholar in UROP. Alongside her mentor, Dr. Yarden Katz, Mustafa researched bioweapons.

“Dr. Katz and I discovered that there are very inaccurate depictions of bioweapons presented by the U.S. media, which prohibit the discussion of addressing their dangers,” she said. “I had the opportunity to share our findings in the UROP Spring Symposium 2022 at U-M, which was an unforgettable experience.”

This past summer, Mustafa was an Engelhardt Fellow where she was actively engaged with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics. She was also an intern at the Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC), a nonprofit organization based in Dearborn. At the WCDRC, she worked on a social justice project, familiarizing community members with the voluntary service of mediation.

“My tasks were to handle the intake process of mediation for landlord/tenant cases that were referred to us by FOX 2 Detroit, managing the weekly landlord/tenant dockets for our mediators, and handling social media,” she said. “I’ve learned so much interning at a nonprofit organization that proudly volunteers to provide affordable mediation services for community members who might not have the time and finances for handling their disputes in court. I also have taken the Oakland Mediation Center’s 40-Hour General Civil Mediator Training during my time as an intern and am on track to being certified as a mediator this semester.”

In September, Mustafa was the student speaker at the monthly HFC Board of Trustees meeting. Her friend and classmate Alayna Kondraciuk, daughter of HFC Senior Systems Administrator Jerry Kondraciuk, encouraged her to speak.

“I felt honored to be asked to speak,” she said. “It was such an amazing opportunity! It was really nice to meet our wonderful board and become more familiar with what they do.”

A community of innovators preparing for the future

Mustafa encourages people wanting to pursue higher education, whether they’re traditional students or students returning to academics later in adulthood, to consider HFC.

“To persuade them to come here, I would share my personal experience – how I wasn’t planning to attend until the end of my senior year of high school, and how I thought there was no other option other than going straight to a university for an amazing college experience,” she said. “I would tell them to join the Honors Program and surround themselves with the great individuals that I did. I would tell them about the welcoming community of students and faculty. Whether you are coming straight out of high school or returning after becoming a parent, HFC welcomes everyone and it is never too late to get your education.”

Mustafa continued: “I would also share how easy the transition from high school is at the College. HFC does not get the recognition it deserves because it is labeled as being a community college. I will tell you that this community college offers students opportunities that universities sometimes cannot. There is also the bonus of being able to save money from attending here your first two years. HFC provided me with the opportunity to explore more about myself and the world we live in before moving on to a bigger university. For me, HFC is the perfect stepping stone; it gives you opportunities to explore who you are not only as a student, but as an individual striving for success.”

Mustafa would not trade her HFC experience for anything.

“Overall, I think every HFC professor I’ve had has impacted me in some positive way. They have demonstrated such great passion for the classes they teach and care deeply about the success and understanding of every individual student. They each truly possess the qualities that make an outstanding professor,” she said. “What I love most about HFC is the commitment the faculty and staff have regarding student success. There is a drive to constantly improve things on campus or in the classroom. For instance, the Eshleman Library was just renovated, and the Honors Program just got a new hub. HFC truly is FutureDriven; it is a community of innovators preparing for the future.”