Detroit Mercy Law student Mariane Karkaba spent several years in Beirut, Lebanon.
Photo courtesy of Mariane Karkaba
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
As a woman, and an Arab-American, Mariane Karkaba says that pursuing a legal career comes in handy today more than ever before.
“Unfortunately—but also fortunately—I’ve faced several hardships which have shaped me into the young Arab-American woman attorney I desire to be,” she says. “I was warned, by several friends and family, that I would encounter several difficulties as a result of diversity—primarily, for being Muslim, for being an Arab-American, for being a woman, and for dressing modestly while representing my religion. However, I refused to allow such an unnecessary difference delay or object to pursuing the career of my dreams. If anything, in my eyes, being different makes it 10 times more motivating and exciting entering this diverse field of law.
“Regardless of whatever path one may choose to take, there will be countless bumps to overcome to get to where you want to be. This is just the beginning of widening the doors to upcoming generations of Arab-American women, who wish to pursue any career whatsoever. I strive to be a mentor, and an example to other woman in the legal field, proving that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.”
Born in Dearborn, Karkaba moved to Beirut right after the Lebanese Civil War that ended in October 1990.
“As I aimed for law school, I realized I could not excel nor could I maximize my capabilities back home due to the country’s overall downfall and crisis,” she says. “Consequently and fortunately, I was able to move back to the U.S. to fulfill the goal of a legal career.
“Coming from Lebanon, a place where one does not hold constitutional rights nor can one pursue their rights through the law, while experiencing both sides of the world drew me towards the legal world and career.”
After attending prep school in Lebanon, she returned to the U.S. and earned her undergrad degree in political science, with minors in leadership and philosophy, from University of Detroit Mercy; and at graduation was awarded with a Leadership pin and Leadership medallion, for her involvement in student organizations, spirituality retreats, completed leadership coursework, mentoring, and 200 hours of community service.
“Generally, I've always been interested in learning more about politics, especially as someone who was not familiar much with American politics as I’ve moved back to the United States three years ago,” she says. “Leadership and philosophy allowed me to broaden my knowledge as it provided exposure on politics in everyday life and showed me how to approach different situations from a unique viewpoint.”
Karkaba remained a member of the UDM “Titan” community after undergrad, and now is in her 1L year at Detroit Mercy Law School
“I enjoy the atmosphere of unity,” she says. “Detroit Mercy provides an environment where one can outgrow their comfort zones, and calls for a more personal and focused classroom, as student-professor relationships grow beyond just education.”
In addition to her studies, she very much appreciates the university’s mission of service to the Detroit community.
“Service along with hands-on experience has been more than just serving the community,” she says. “Throughout my UDM experience, I’ve realized that being active and undertaking such affairs is more for you, than for others. You find yourself and learn more about yourself through service.”
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