Desalegne Mengesha Degefaw is an Academic Vice President of the University of Gondar (UoG), one of the first generation Universities in Ethiopia. By profession he is a veterinarianhaving a Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Science in Tropical Veterinary Medicine (MSc) from Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He joined the University of Gondar in September 2006 as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He has attended various trainings including a higher education leadership and management course in the University of Witwatersrand in S. Africa. He has served as an academic programs officer of the University of Gondar in 2008/2009. He was promoted to the position of Vice President for Academic, Research and Community Cervices of the University in September 2009 and has been serving the University in this position until May 2013. In his leadership position, he has contributed his share in the expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, to the enhancement of the quality of education and to the advancement of research and community service activities working closely with the University management and community. Since May 2013, following an administrative restructuring, he became Academic Vice President. Recently, Dr Desalegne won a five month Fulbright scholarship granted by the U.S. State Department and he is currentlyat the Ohio State University (OSU)as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar. The objectives of his stay at OSU include the following: 1) Learn U.S. higher education administration systems; 2) Liaison between OSU and UoG specific units to strengthen partnership; 3) Facilitate and enhance One Health Ethiopia partnership between OSU and UoG and 4) Develop specific curriculum for establishing defined PhD programs at UoG. His stay at OSU will help strengthening existing partnerships between colleges and units between the two Universities, initiating new partnerships in various colleges, centers, departments, units, … etc and shadowing in various management meetings to promote his leadership experience in higher education.

Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary sciences, Animal Health.