[3] During the Senate confirmation hearings, then-Senator Barack Obama called Ghafari "an immigrant who has truly lived the American dream.

"[4] Born in Alma El-Chaab, Lebanon, "in a home with no electricity, phone or running water," Ghafari moved to the United States in 1972.

[5] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics in 1974, a Master of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Computer Applications in 1975, and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1977, from Wayne State University.

[7] His alma mater named one of its residence halls in his honor after he donated $9 million to the school.

"[13] On January 20, 2009, when Barack Obama was sworn in as U. S. President, Ghafari's term ended.