FEBRUARY 2022

NOTEWORTHY
Law student
brings business
background to
her studies
BY SHEILA PURSGLOVE
Law student Tina Toma
earned a BBA and
MBA from Wayne State
University, interning at
Mahle, where she was hired
after graduation. She completed
her MBA during five
years at Mahle—an international
development partner
and supplier to the automotive
industry—where she
Tina Toma
worked as a procurement
professional negotiating with global vendors.
“I am so fortunate for my work experience, and
Mahle’s management team that always pushed me to
the next level,” she says. “Every industry in the world
understands the language of business. I chose to pursue
a graduate degree in business because business
is a fundamental concept, and opens a world of opportunities
for you.”
Her reasons for attending law school are similar.
“Law is also a universal language understood
worldwide. There are endless avenues and opportunities,
and I will have the flexibility to use both my JD,
MBA in many industries and projects,” she says. “I have
a passion for communication, relationship building,
and negotiating; a law degree will complement these
passions and bring me to the next step.”
Toma is in her 1L year at Detroit Mercy Law, and
a Dean’s Fellow.
She has a new appreciation for in-person education,
after previous students had to study via remote classes
during the pandemic.
“I’m fortunate to have all my classes in person,”
she says. “Zoom has become a more accepted form
of communication—it makes life easier, but I prefer
to have my classes in person. Also, Detroit Mercy is
in the heart of Detroit, very close to the courthouses.
I’ve not yet had the opportunity to visit the courthouses,
but I sure hope that’s in my near future!”
Toma says she has a responsibility to make many
people proud who have supported her thus far—her
family (specifically her parents), friends, and the Detroit
Mercy Law community.
The first-generation in the U.S. of her Chaldean
parents, Toma is the first in her family to graduate
with a college degree.
“I’m so proud of my nationality. Chaldeans have
been in the States for a few decades now, and it’s incredible
to watch our Chaldean first generation pursue
higher education. My parents did not have higher education
opportunities, they spent their 20s living through
a war,” she says.
“My parents have provided all their love and support
during my college education. However, it wasn’t
easy at times not to have college-educated parents to
help the process. I had to learn things alone, which
was sometimes challenging.
“I share this information with other students as
much as possible – it’s challenging to be a first-generation
student. This is a cause I care about, and I
believe there needs to be a unique program for this.”
One of three sisters, Toma also has a brother, who
is interested in attending Detroit Mercy Law.
“I hope he will join me in the next year or two,”
she says. “He’s stressing for the LSAT. I sure don’t
miss those days.”
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All my clients are my family, there is
nothing I won’t do to help you reach
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– Michael Yaldoo
10 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2022