Anis Boussoualim ’24 named Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Business

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – No matter where you look, numbers are everywhere. That’s true of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, which is just how Anis Boussoualim ’24 likes it. Numbers led him to the College of Business, and eventually to be honored as the college’s Fall 2024 Outstanding Islander Graduate as he earns a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. 

“I have always had a passion for numbers,” Boussoualim said.

There’s even a number to quantify Boussoualim’s impact on his fellow Islanders — the hundreds of students he estimates he’s helped as a peer tutor. He’s assisted his fellow Islanders in a wide range of complex subjects including calculus, economics, finance, and accounting.

“It was truly rewarding to witness students leave my tutoring sessions with a smile and say things like, ‘this finally makes sense’ or ‘I can finally understand math,’” Boussoualim said.  “Those moments of connection and seeing their confidence grow were some of the most heartwarming experiences of my college journey.”

Those rewards once seemed nearly out of reach. A native Arabic and French speaker, explaining intricate topics in English was initially challenging, and those tutoring sessions not only helped other students, but they also helped Boussoualim hone his communication skills as he gained a deeper understanding of the topics he tutored.

Arabic and French are the primary languages of the African nation of Algeria where Boussoualim was raised. As an Algerian high school student, Boussoualim dreamed of leaving home and studying abroad.

“I wanted to take a different path from most of my peers, who chose France, Spain, or Switzerland for their studies,” Boussoualim said. “I sought an experience outside of my comfort zone, hoping to explore the unknown, broaden my worldview, and grow personally.”

Stepping outside his comfort zone led Boussoualim on a journey of more than 5,600 miles from his home in Algeria’s capital city of Algiers to Corpus Christi. The journey, while filled with excitement, meant he would spend an extended amount of time away from his family. 

“There were many times early on when I considered leaving everything behind and going back home due to the emotional difficulty of being so far away,” Boussoualim said. “But thanks to my parents’ unwavering support and the encouragement of friends and mentors I met along the way, I persevered.”

That perseverance also saw him through the twists and turns of a change in majors. Boussoualim initially came to the Island University in 2021 to study civil engineering, but after two semesters, he realized finance was a better fit. The fact that the College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) made his decision to stay at TAMU-CC an easy one.

“Only about 6% of business schools worldwide have this prestigious accreditation,” Boussoualim said. “This gave me confidence in the quality of the education I would receive and locked in my decision to stay.”

His major may have changed, but Boussoualim maintained a close connection with the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He lists Dr. Aref Mazloum, Mechanical Engineering Program Coordinator, among his mentors.

“Anis is truly a remarkable individual with a diverse range of interests and experiences,” said Mazloum. “His journey from civil engineering to finance demonstrates his adaptability and intellectual curiosity.”

For Boussoualim, Mazloum’s influence extended beyond the classroom.

“Beyond professional guidance, Dr. Mazloum also offered personal and religious support during some of my lowest moments, helping me find direction in both my academic and personal life,” Boussoualim said.

Boussoualim also represented the College of Business as a Student Government Association Senator, something he considers an honor which allowed him to be part of something bigger than himself.  Now, as Boussoualim’s undergraduate journey concludes, he finds himself a long way from where he was his first day as an Islander. He also aspires to earn a master’s degree and own a business one day.

“While I still hold on to the core values I was raised with, I have evolved into a more knowledgeable and engaged member of society,” Boussoualim said. “I now have a deeper understanding of my potential and the impact I can have, not just in my future workplace but in contributing to something much larger than myself.”