Three Regent Candidates Speak at UM-Dearborn Forum: But which Candidate Will Show Up for UM-Dearborn?

By Reena Hamad

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

On Oct. 20, University of Michigan Regent candidates Paul Brown, Lena Epstein and Amir Makled spoke at a forum hosted by Student Government at UM-Dearborn ahead of the Nov. 3 election. 

Moderated by Rayan Bazzi, Student Government’s director of student life, the forum allotted each candidate equal time to respond to each prepared topic before the discussion turned to audience questions. 

Brown, a UM-Ann Arbor alumnus who previously taught finance and entrepreneurship as a lecturer in Ann Arbor’s engineering college, was elected to the Board of Regents in 2018. In his opening remarks, Brown said he had his candidacy announced on the Dearborn campus “to signal its importance.” 

Makled opened by noting his connection to Dearborn as a personal one. A 2009 UM-Dearborn graduate who lives and practices law in Dearborn, Makled said he wanted to give back to the campus that shaped him and address inequities he experienced firsthand on a regional campus.

Epstein pointed to her business experience as preparation for serving on the board. A co-owner and executive of Vesco Oil Corporation, Epstein holds an MBA from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. She outlined her three core campaign priorities: increased access for in-state students, greater affordability and accountability to Michigan taxpayers. 

Throughout the discussion, Epstein returned to her call for more “in-state talent,” emphasizing expanded opportunities for Michigan students. To address concerns about inaccessibility to regents for the Dearborn campus community, Epstein said she plans to hold office hours twice a month on all three campuses. 

“In my business, I have 12 locations and every location is vital for the overall organization,” she said. She added that although the university is not a business, her experience gathering feedback across locations would help her serve all three campuses. 

The final questions, submitted by The Michigan Journal, concerned protections for Palestinian identity and freedom of speech, as well as how the candidates plan to bridge inequities between UM-Ann Arbor and the regional campuses. Epstein had to leave the event before these questions were asked. 

Makled said students should be able to advocate for Palestinian rights without facing retaliation from the university. Earlier in the discussion, he referenced his work defending student protesters who were charged for participating in UM’s 2024 encampments and noted it as one reason he entered the race for regent. In response to the question, Makled echoed what he sounded throughout the forum: creating university policies that are impartial in both writing and implementation, enforced through a system that ensures due process. 

On the topic of funding, Brown recalled opposing a proposed 2020 university budget he believed inadequately supported Dearborn and Flint. “I was telling the president if he didn’t put $20 million in for Flint and Dearborn, I wasn’t going to support the budget,” he said. He also highlighted the fall 2025 expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee, which raised the family income limit to $125,000 for otherwise eligible in-state undergraduates across all three campuses. 

Makled proposed reviewing campus resources before the next budget cycle and publishing comparable per-student and per-employee data on instruction, advising, mental health services, financial aid, research support and facilities. He also emphasized a review of pay for comparable work and making sure that the state-allocated funds for Dearborn and Flint are increased. 

Ultimately, university leadership must be willing and active in addressing unequal access to resources for regional campuses, while also protecting the right to question and push back on institutional decisions that affect the entire campus community. Free speech, impartial policies and due process should be expectations across all three campuses. Concerns of Dearborn and Flint should carry weight in budget decisions with measurable progress that the university community can evaluate. 

The upcoming election on Nov. 3 gives voters an opportunity to hold candidates to those expectations. Voting is both a right and a civic duty. I encourage those who are eligible, to cast an informed ballot and participate in shaping the university’s future – one defined by inclusion, freedom of expression and equitable support for UM-Dearborn students, faculty and staff.