Ayar Family

Christina (Safar) Ayar was born in the United States to Syrian-born parents who instilled the value of higher education in her and her siblings at a young age. As a first-generation college student, Christina proudly graduated from Wayne State University with both her Bachelors and Masters degrees by the age of 22 and began her career in philanthropy in the Annual Giving department at Wayne State University. Her passion for the industry grew and she has spent her entire career working at both four-year universities as well as community colleges in various advancement positions, most recently at Oakland Community College where she serves as the Vice Chancellor for Advancement.

Wassem Ayar was born in Baghdad, Iraq and came to the United States at the age of 7. Wassem did not know English and spent most of elementary school taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Born to highly-educated parents, Wassem graduated from Wayne State University in 2016 and used his entrepreneurial background to purchase the business in which he was working as a student. Wassem spent much of his career in the cellular industry, owning and operating nine locations throughout Metro Detroit. Wanting to branch out into something that could diversify his business portfolio, Wassem is currently the owner of two successful Urban Air Adventure Parks in Sterling Heights, MI and Commerce Township, MI. Wassem is also a licensed realtor and owns both commercial and personal properties throughout metro Detroit and Naples, FL. He is continuously on the search to expand his real estate portfolio.

Wassem and Christina (Safar) Ayar were married in 2012 and have three children: Zayna, Zara and Alexander Ayar. Wassem and Christina truly love to serve: they believe in giving back in their time, talents and treasures. In 2024, Wassem and Christina established the Ayar Family Scholarship in hopes of providing assistance to OCC students of various backgrounds, but especially those who are first-generation students. They want their recipients to know that the sky is the limit and to not allow potential set-backs like language barriers or having family members who can guide you through the process of succeeding in college keep you from reaching your potential.