Former Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed recalled for Oxford studies and lacrosse leadership
Peers recount Abdul El-Sayed’s academic work, sports involvement and personal habits during his time as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, ahead of his recent election to the U.S. Senate.
Abdul El-Sayed, who was elected as a U.S. senator, spent 2009–2010 at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman praised his academic record and described him as an “engaged intellect” before his departure. Former teammate Elias Rothblatt, now a fintech professional, said El-Sayed was a driven lacrosse player and captain of Oxford’s team, noting his competitive spirit and sense of humour on the field.
Rothblatt recalled that El-Sayed was also sociable off the field, often seen with his wife and known for ordering a grilled ciabatta sandwich with coronation chicken at a local Oxford café. The café owner, Ricardo Chasebi, later added a version called “the Abdul” to the menu after El-Sayed’s frequent visits and a thank-you note in his doctoral thesis.
El-Sayed initially struggled with his coursework and returned to Michigan briefly, but he later described his Oxford classmates as influential in his education. In articles for the Guardian he praised aspects of the UK political system and noted the limited opportunities for Arab-American representation in U.S. elections.
Following his recent Senate victory, Rothblatt expressed optimism about El-Sayed’s future work in Washington, citing his past ambition and ideas.