Desalegn Mengesha Degefaw

“Dr. Desalegne Mengesha Degefaw is the Country Director of the Global One Health initiative (GOHi) at The Ohio State University in Ethiopia and former President of the University of Gondar. He holds a DVM and MSc in Tropical Veterinary Medicine from Addis Ababa University, along with several international leadership certifications. As UoG President, he led major academic expansions, infrastructure development, and national-level reforms in education quality. He co-led the $25M Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and built transformative partnerships with institutions like OSU and Boku University. His leadership has significantly impacted higher education, research, and community development across Ethiopia and the region.”