Elizabeth Mary Preston

Elizabeth Mary Preston, age 63, passed away on June 5, 2026. Born May 16, 1963, to parents Edward and Elizabeth Haddad. Elizabeth was a Detroit native and later a resident of St. Clair Shores, Michigan. She will be remembered with deep respect and enduring affection — as a beloved presence in the lives of many, marked by steady courage, a kind heart, and a wisdom shaped by years of devoted service to others.

Elizabeth graduated from Clarkston High School and pursued higher education with the same diligence that defined her life’s work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant and her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. She continued her studies at Ferris State University, working towards her Ed.D. in community college leadership. Along the way, she authored an article on adaptive change in the FSU Perspectives publication—reflecting a thoughtful, purposeful commitment to strengthening institutions and the people they serve.

A hard-working educator and advocate, Elizabeth dedicated more than 30 years to higher education. She began her career teaching English at Lake Orion High School in Orion Township for a year, and later taught at the Pontiac Business Institute. Over the decades, she served students and colleagues at Davenport’s Dearborn campus, Baker College of Clinton Township, Oakland Community College, and the University of Detroit Mercy, before coming to HFC in 2006. There, her leadership and care were evident in the programs and support she helped build: she co-founded the Inside Track Mentoring Program for First Time in Any College (FTIAC) students who tested into one or more developmental classes, and co-founded SAFE@HFC to promote equity and inclusion for HFC’s LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. She also participated in on-boarding events to speak with new employees about the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at HFC, and worked to improve support systems for HFC’s homeless students and students who had aged out of the foster care system. In all of this, Elizabeth’s brave advocacy and steady compassion spoke louder than any title ever could.

Elizabeth was married for 33 years to the late Craig Preston. She was the cherished mother of Elizabeth Preston, David Preston, and Daniel Preston. She was the dear sister of Julie (Jim) Gibson, Edward (Linda) Haddad, Susan (Jim) Navarre, John (Pam) Haddad, and Patricia Haddad. Elizabeth also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and all those that knew and loved her.

Her love of learning and her respect for honest work were central to who she was. She believed in education as a way to lift others, especially those too often overlooked, and she carried that belief into every role she held. She credited her success in education to her mother Elizabeth and to the many aunts who were teachers and educators—an inheritance of guidance and example that she honored by becoming a voice for the next generation.

Elizabeth also spoke with heartfelt clarity about the meaning of community and belonging. “I loved the fact that the College was based in a very close-knit community like Dearborn,” said Preston. “I’m half-Lebanese on my dad’s side. I’m half-Irish on my mom’s side. Growing up, Dearborn was home for me. My extended family was here. Dearborn itself has a very warm place in my heart as do the members of the community. I loved the opportunity to work in a community college environment, but also felt an affinity for the community members. I feel I could be better advocate for them, that perhaps they could see themselves in me.”