Interests and Expertise
My name is Mohamed Ayoub and I am a lifelong Detroiter. The city of Detroit is not just another place to me. I was born and raised in it, and I am a byproduct of the Detroit Public School system. For thirty-three years, it has been my home. I’ve watched it suffer; I’ve watched it rise—I’ve seen the commitment, the failure, the prospects, the anger, and the hope. With hard work, determination, and enthusiasm for my education and my community I was able to attend Wayne State University where I successfully pursued my dreams of becoming an Urban Planner. My achievements as an undergraduate and graduate student at WSU were life changing. In 2023, I completed a second master's degree at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
I currently serve as the City Planning Director for the City of Westland. I have constantly been caught in the crosshairs of complex problems that impact the social and physical fabric of communities—problems that often extend beyond my jurisdiction. Yet still, that fabric is the very fuel that motivates my efforts, that encourages me to work harder, to strive further. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to navigate public engagement techniques, build relationships, and establish trust with various demographics and sectors.
At EMU I am a Part-time Lecturer in the urban planning program. I am particularly motivated about the opportunity this has presented to increase access to educational opportunities for students who want to learn more about urban planning. My mission is to constantly improve individually, and to help others, and my community, do the same.
