University Board Confers Professorship on Nine Academics

The Addis Ababa University Board convened at the end of the previous year, 31 December
2009, and conferred an academic rank of full professorship on nine of its scholars from different
fields of studies. The bestowal of the academic ranks was primarily based on the achievements
and contribution of the conferees in the academic and research arena. Whereas Prof. Yewoihareg
Feleke is the second female professor in the country, Prof. Tilahun Teshome is the first to be
awarded the title in the history of the Addis Ababa University’s Law School.

Prof. Tilahun Teshome

Professor Tilahun Teshome was born in Addis Ababa on the 19th of November 1953. He
completed his elementary and high school education in Addis Ababa, passed the Ethiopian
Schools Leaving Certificate Examination with Great Distinction and was awarded prize from
Emperor Haile Sellasie in 1972. He also holds a diploma in Accounting which he earned with
Very Great Distinction. He joined the Addis Ababa University in September 1972 and graduated
with the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1979. He worked as a legal expert at the
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia until March 1983 after which he served as a judge of the Special
High Court and then as a judge and presiding judge of the Supreme Court of Ethiopia for nearly
ten years. Professor Tilahun was engaged by the Addis Ababa University as a full-time faculty
member in January 1993 and has taught several courses both in the undergraduate and graduate
programs of the Faculty of Law. He has likewise supervised numerous LL.B. and LL.M theses
both at the Addis Ababa University and for universities outside Ethiopia. In addition to the many
assignments he was entrusted with by the University Administration, he has served as the Dean
of the Faculty of Law from 1996 to 2001, Secretary of the University Senate and its Executive
Committee for more than four years and as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ethiopian Law
for several years. Professor Tilahun has extensively written and published on the different
aspects of Ethiopian law at home and abroad, including his widely read book on the Basic
Principles of Ethiopian Contract Law, the copy right of which he donated to the Faculty of Law.

Professor Tilahun has worked as a consultant to a number of Governmental and Non-

Governmental organizations and has served in leadership positions in many professional
associations, civil society organizations and private enterprises. Among many others, he is a
member of the International Board of Trustees of the African Child Policy Forum, the African
Law Association, the International Society of Family Law and the Ethiopian Bar Association. He
has presented study papers, conducted trainings, drafted laws and provided legal consultancy
services for different organizations. He had been awarded grant as a research fellow at the
Northwestern University in Chicago the U.S.A. and the University of Bayreuth in Germany. He
has also been active in the provision of arbitration services to individuals and the wider business
community. Professor Tilahun has further been awarded certificates of merit and appreciation
from organizations at home and abroad, including the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, the
Mayor of the City of Detroit in the U.S.A. and the American Bar Association.

In recognition of these and other services, the Board of Governors of the Addis Ababa University
has recently resolved to promote him to the rank of professor, thereby making him the first
Ethiopian ever to be elevated to that rank in the history of the Law School.

Prof. Mesganaw Fantahun

Professor Misganaw Fentahun was born and brought up in Gondar town (northwest Ethiopia) and
finished his high school education during the last year of the reign of Emperor Haile Sellasie I with Very
Great Distinction. He then got my medical degree from Kalinin State Medical Institute, USSR and PhD
degree from Umea University, Sweden. The groundwork, for who he is today, according to him, was laid
by his parents’ early teaching of what a good and responsible person should be and how they should
behave. Significant others who have shaped his life also include his friends, colleagues, teachers of all
levels including the “priest school” teacher, and relatives from rural Gondar. In his words, he belongs to
a generation of people with unique characteristics and fates.

His career as a public health practitioner started with a short course in Primary Health Care whereupon he
was assigned as a health manager. This led to joining the MPH training at Addis Ababa University which
offered him the opportunity to decide to further pursue his career as a trainer and researcher in public
health.

In the realm of research, he began with a Master’s thesis work on maternal health. The time coincided
with a period of change in thinking about maternal health, as the world was being faced with facts that
showed the neglected tragedy of maternal mortality. This tragedy was, among other things, related to poor
utilization and effectiveness of maternal health services. His first work focused on the determinants of
antenatal care utilization and preference of place of delivery in Addis, where physical access to “free”
maternal health services would not be considered a big problem. Later, he looked into the different
aspects of maternal and child health including family planning, adolescent and youth health,
reproductive health, child health, establishing causes of death at community level and other issues of
public health importance.

Establishing research infrastructure is key for conducting relevant research and implementing findings for
health development. In this regard, his main contributions are establishing, leading and paving the way for
sustaining the Dabat Rural Health Project, the second epidemiological field laboratory in Ethiopia, and
the Research and Publication Office of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences, present day Gondar
University. He headed the Department of Community Health of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences
for four years.

At the Faculty of Medicine (AAU), he served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies for two years
and worked in many committees and projects. He has led the Maternal and Child Health (MCH)/
Reproductive Health (RH) Unit/Department, since he joined the Faculty of Medicine. He has also been
engaged in promoting MCH/RH beyond AAU by working with concerned government and non-
government stakeholders. For the last seven years, he has coordinated and led the Butijra Rural Health
Program, one of the oldest and strongest Demographic and Surveillance Sites in the world.

It is therefore in recognition of all his commitments and hard work that the university has currently
bestowed upon him the rank of a full professor.

Prof. Damen Hailemariam

Professor Damen HaileMariam teaches and conducts research in the area of health services
analysis and health management in the School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine. Within
these subject areas, he (in collaboration with other colleagues) has published more than 50
scientific publications in local as well as international journals.
With his colleagues, Professor Damen has played a monumental role in the launching of the PhD
program in Public Health Training in Ethiopia.
He, in addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, serves as member and consultant
within various national and international professional committees. He has also served as the
President of the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) for four years. Currently, he is
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs at the Faculty of Medicine.
In view of all the above achievements, the AAU Board has approved his promotion to the rank of
full Professor in Public Health and Health Economics.

Prof. Birhanu Erko

Professor Birhanu Erko, is a researcher and teacher in Pathobiology at the Aklilu Lema Institute
of Pathobiology. He has published more than 60 of his works in outstanding international
journals as well as national ones.

While in his research career he mainly focuses on schistosomiasis/ bilharziasis, he also

undertakes various researches on intestinal parasites. Among the milestones in his research
endeavors, mapping the distribution of schistomsomiasis and snail intermediate hosts,
investigation on biological control of snails, Endod-based pilot intervention studies, and research
on other forms of parasitical infections are but few to mention.

Besides his teaching and research undertakings, the professor has advised student researchers at
postgraduate level from Biological as well as well as Medical sciences. He also worked hard in
building the capacity of other institutions by conducting trainings in the area of the identification
of vector snails and other parasites that can transmit the disease to humans and animals alike. His
provision of professional assistance to the schistosomiasis control project at Wonji and Fincha
Sugar Factories is also of fundamental import. Some NGOs that are working in the areas of the
control of schistosomiasis and other parasitical infections in various parts of the country have
also benefited from his professional assistance.

It is thus, in view of these contributions that the Addis Ababa University Board has conferred
upon him the rank full professorship in Medical Parasitology.

Prof. Teketel Yohannes

Prof. Teketel Yohannes Anshebo received his BSc. in 1984, MSc. in 1989 and PhD in Physical
Chemistry in 1997 from Addis Ababa University. Beginning1984, he had served at the
Department of Chemistry, at the then Bahir Dar Teachers College of the Addis Ababa
University, which is now Bahir Dar University and moved to the same department at Addis
Ababa University since August 2000. Over the years he has taught a number of undergraduate
and post-graduate Chemistry courses. So far he advised 2 PhD and 7 M.Sc. students and is
currently advising 3 MSc students and 3 PhD students.

He, along with his research group and collaborators, quite extensively studied conducting
polymers which were discovered in the late seventies. Three prominent scientists were given a
Chemistry Nobel prize of the year 2000 for “the discovery and development of condcting
Polymers”. His main research area includes studies of conducting polymer electrochemistry,
spectroelectrochemistry, photovoltaic and photoelectrochemistry.

In this endeavour he has been collaborating with prominent scientists across the globe such as
those in the University of Linkoping, Sweden, the University of Linz, Austria, the University of
Osaka, Japan, the University of Antwerp, Belgium, the Abdus Salam International Center for
Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing,
China, ISMN-CNR, Bologna, Italy and co-authored with leading scientists in his research areas.

He has also been able to acquire research grants from research and publications office, Addis
Ababa University, Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission, SIDA/SAREC, Sweden and
the Third World Academy of Sciences Trieste, Italy in addition to the long list of fellowships he
garnered to accomplish his series of research visits abroad.

In addition to his teaching and research activities he has been actively participating in
international conferences, workshops and scientific meetings.

The leadership quality of Prof. Teketel is demonstrated by his service as Chairman of

Department of Chemistry (Bahir Dar Teachers College, AAU); a member of the Chemistry
Department Graduate Committee (AAU); graduate seminar coordinator (AAU); graduate thesis-
examining board member (AAU); steering committee member for launching graduate program
in material sciences (AAU); steering Committee Chairman for launching PhD programs for the
Faculty of Science, Faculty of Technology and Faculty of Informatics; Director, Materials
Science Program (AAU), associate editor of SINET-Ethiopian Journal of Sciences; member of
the International Board of Editors of The African Physical Review journal; secretary of the
Chemical Society of Ethiopia; chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 23rd Annual
Congress of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia; Associate Editor of the BCSE; member of the
board of trustees of the Evangelical Theological College of Addis Ababa; and vice chairman of
the board of Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church.

It is in recognition of his achievements and contributions that the Board of the Addis Ababa
University has confered upon him the rank of full professorship in Physial Chemistry.

Prof. Yewoinhareg Feleke

Professor Yewoinhareg Feleke is a specialist in Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine,
Addis Ababa University. Her main areas of concentration include diabetes and endocrinlogical
infirmities. In these areas she has conducted many studies and published over 25 articles. Also
popular and widely used is a book she authored on the subject of diabetes.

Working hand in hand with other scholars from around the globe, she has played a great role in
forming research consortia and deserves a credit for the upbringing of many medical doctors and
specialists in Internal Medicine. She has also inspired a number of young scholars to undertake
and pursue research.

Besides her commitment as a teacher, the professor has served in various capacities in the
university and as a committee member in various professional associations in her area of
specialization. Especially outstanding are her contributions in helping the community battle
diabetes and endocrinological illnesses.

It is thus in recognition of these achievements that the Board of Addis Ababa University has
bestowed upon her the rank of a full professor in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology.

Professor Gezahegn Yirgu

Professor Gezahegn Yirgu was born in February 1951 in Addis Ababa. He attended his primary
and secondary school education at Amha Desta and Teferi Mekonnen Secondary School
respectively. Then he joined Addis Ababa University, then Haileselassie I University, in
September 1969 and completed his undergraduate studies in Geology in September 1976 when
the university was reopened after years of interruption following the 1074 Ethiopian Revolution.
After his graduation, he joined the Ethiopian Geological Survey where he worked as a field
Geologist. In December 1977, he was appointed assistant Lecturer and started his academic
career at the Department of Geology, Addis Ababa University. He joined the graduate program
at the university in 1978 and obtained his MSc. in Geology in 1980. Two years later, he did his
PhD in Geology at the University of Pisa, Italy.

In addition to his teaching career, Professor Gezahegn has published more than 30 articles in
popular Ethiopian and international scientific journals. By joining up with other scholars in
universities in Europe and the US, he has helped many students successfully complete their
graduate studies. He also served in various capacities of academic leadership and professional
associations at a national level.

It is therefore in recognition of these and his other achievements and contributions that the Addis
Ababa University Board conferred on him the rank of a full professor in Igneous
Petrology/Geochemistry.

Prof. Tesema Ta’a

Professor Tesema Ta’a was born in 1948 G.C. at the Village called Jato, Southeast of Naqamtee
town. His parents were self-sufficient farmers though they did not get the chance of formal
education. But they had understood the value of modern education that they sent all their male
children to pursue modern education. Tesema was thus sent to the Swedish Evangelical Mission
School which was closer to Jato Village more than the other elementary schools in Naqamtee.

In the school Tessema had always stood first in his class and received awards every year which
was higher appreciated by his father who also used to reward him.

Since there were no other grades beyond sixth at the Mission School, Tesema was transferred to
Haile Sellassie I School in Neqamtee and joined grade seven. He completed grades seven to ten
in the school with very good academic performances always ranking among the top ten in his
classes. After that he jointed the Harar Teacher Training Institute (HTTI) after successfully
passing written and oral examinations given by the institute. In 1957 E.C. he joined grade #
eleven at the TTI. At in his section and received an award. In 1958 E.C. he completed grade
twelve at the institute and graduated with Distinction receiving a Diploma and a certificate as a
qualified teacher for elementary schools (grade 1-8) in the country.

He began his teaching career in an elementary school Jartee Jardagcy in Horro Guduru in 1959
E.C. After teaching for one year in the school, he was transferred to Haratoo elementary school
in the same zonal Administration. He served at Haratoo for two years and gave up teaching join
the Haile Sellassie I University (HSIU) in favor of pursuing further education in 1962 E.C.

Tesema had successfully completed his freshman program as an honor’s student in the dean’s
list. He then continued his university education as a History major while he minored in
Professional Education. In 1965, he was sent to Neqamtee Comprehensive High Service
Programme for one year where he completed his teaching service diligently. In 1966 he returned
to the University as a fourth year student. After the end of the first semester the Ethiopian
Revolution broke out and consequently universities and high schools were closed down. Tesema
was sent to Naqamtee to serve in the Development through cooperation campaign (Zemacha)
announced and executed by the Provisional Military Government at the time. He served for two
consecutive years 1967 E.C. and 1968 E.C as a cultural coordinator and a sigh school teacher
respectively. In the last three months of 1968 a crush program was arranged by the university for
fourth year students and Tesema got the opportunity to complete his studies and received his
B.A. degree in 1969 E.C. He was then selected by the Faculty of Education of History as a
Graduate Assistant and was assigned to teach at Baedemariam Laboratory School where he
taught for two years as an outstanding instructor. After the School was closed Tesema was
transferred to the Department of History in the College of Social Sciences in Addis Ababa
University with the rank of a Lecturer.

In 1978-79 Academic years, the Department of History opened an M.A. Programme for staff
development and Tesema became one of the three students who were joined the program. He had
successfully completed his MA an excellent thesis on the Oromo of Wollega. He was then
assigned as an Assistant Dean of the college of Social Sciences besides his teaching
responsibilities in the Department of History. After serving for two years he was sent to
Michigan State University to pursue his Ph.D. studies as a Teaching Assistant in the Department
of History in the selfsame university. He was a successful Teaching Assistant as well as an
outstanding Ph.D. student. In 1986 after four years of Ph.D. training he produced a dissertation
entitled The Political Economy of the Macca Oromo which he has now published as a book.

In October 1986 he came back from the USA and began to serve the Department of History with
the rank of an Assistant Professor. In the following year he was posted as an Associate Dean of
the college of Social Sciences Extension Division in addition to his teaching job. He rendered his
service enthusiastically as an Associate Dean for five years until 1991. In 1993 he was promoted
to the rank of an Associate Professor after fulfilling all the requirements for promotion.

In 1994 Tesema was elected as a Dean of the CSS by the staff members and was appointed by
the then president of AAU Dr. Dure Mohammed. He served for three years as the Dean of CSS
besides his teaching responsibilities in the Department of History. In 1997-1998 he was on a
sabbatical leave when he was offered a research fellowship position by the Ethnological Museum
at Osaka and Humboldt University in Germany respectively.

In 1998/99 Academic year he returned from his sabbatical and continued to serve as an instructor
and advisor particularly in the Graduate programme of the Department of History. Tesema has
published books and several Articles in his university career.

He has now fulfilled all the requirements for promotion to the rank of full Professorship which
has been approved and conferred on him accordingly by the board of the university.

Prof. Tenalem Ayenew

Prof. Tenalem Ayenew was born on December 30, 1966 in a small village called Tenkot Gebriel,
South Gonder. He attended primary and secondary school at Atse Kaleb and Negele Borena
Junior Secondary School in Southern Oromia. He got B.Sc degree in Geology in 1987 from
Addis Ababa University, Postgraduate Diploma in Hydrological Engineering in 1991 from
UNESCO-IHE and M.Sc in Water Resources Surveying in 1993 from the International institute
for Aerospace Survey and Geoinformation Sciences (ITC) in the Netherlands. Soon after
graduation he joined the Department of Earth Sciences of Addis Ababa University. He got a PhD
in Hydrogeology from the Free University of Amsterdam in 1998.

He has been actively involved in teaching and research since his employment. He taught several
courses at different academic levels and advised over 100 post-graduate students at M.Sc and
PhD level in a number of Departments and Universities. He has been involved in teaching many
African experts working water on resources exploration and development outside Ethiopia.

He coordinated many national and international research projects and published over 70
scientific papers; most in well known and highly reputable international journals. He also wrote a
number of books. He won prestigious international research grants from a number of institutions
and Foundations. Among others the most important ones are the United States National Science
Foundation (NSF), Alexander Von Humboldt Humboldt Foundation and the African Young
Scientists grant from START (SysTem for Analysis Research and Training). Currently he is
coordinating different scientific research projects and actively involved in consultancy services
in various national water resources and road development projects and environmental impact
assessment studies.

Prof. Tenalem’s research interest include applications of numerical models for hydrologal and
hydrogeological system analysis and development of decision support tool for groundwater
management, evaluation of the groundwater and surface waters links using isotope and
hydrochemical techniques, effects of neotectonism and climate change on the Ethiopian lakes,
assessment of the mechanism of fluoride enrichment and water pollution. He is also working in
Geotechnics and Engineering Geology (mainly slope stability and landslides analysis). He is also
interested in the conservation of the fragile Ethiopian rift valley lakes and other endangered
wetlands of Ethiopia.

It is therefore in recognition of these and other contributions he has made that the Addis Ababa
University board has conferred on him the academic rank of a full professorship.