Gojjam Ademe Mengistu (PhD) is an assistant professor of management at Bahir Dar University and a seasoned academic, consultant, and strategist with more than 20 years of experience in organizational design, strategic leadership, and institutional transformation. He has held senior leadership roles in Ethiopian universities and contributed to major national and international initiatives, including USAID-funded organizational assessments, World Bank innovation projects, and British Council employability programs.

Gennet Zewide Birru (PhD) is a pioneering Ethiopian academic, statesman, and diplomat who has dedicated her career to the transformation of Ethiopia’s educational landscape and the advancement of women’s rights. As the first woman to hold a cabinet-level education ministerial position in Ethiopia, her legacy is defined by a commitment to equity, access, and institutional reform.

Academic Foundations