Dr. Dereje Tessema has established himself as an exceptional educator with an impressive academic career spanning multiple institutions, receiving recognition for his teaching excellence at the highest levels.

Currently serving as Academic Vice President at Florida University Southeast (2016-Present), Dr. Tessema provides strategic leadership for all academic programs, overseeing curriculum development and faculty recruitment. His key accomplishments include leading the development and successful accreditation of three new graduate programs, implementing a comprehensive faculty development program that increased teaching effectiveness scores by 18%, and establishing international academic partnerships with universities in Ethiopia, Germany, and India.

At Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies (2018-Present), he teaches graduate courses in Project Management and Agile methodologies while contributing to curriculum development initiatives. His teaching excellence has been recognized with the 2025 Tropaia Award for Project Management Outstanding Faculty.

As Lead Faculty for the Masters in Project Management program at Virginia International University (2010-2017), he directed curriculum development and program assessment, earning recognition as Professor of the Year in 2012. He also taught at Colorado Technical University (2011-2013) as Subject Matter Expert and Adjunct Faculty.

Dr. Tessema’s teaching portfolio includes courses in Project Management Fundamentals, Agile Methodologies, Leadership and Communication, Advanced Project Management, Organizational Change Management, Doctoral Research Methods, and Enterprise Software Architecture. His teaching philosophy centers on connecting theory with practice through an andragogical approach that respects adult learners’ professional experiences while challenging them to expand their thinking.

His instructional innovations include integration of industry case studies, simulation-based learning, blended learning approaches, an agile learning framework, technology integration, and cross-disciplinary projects. Student feedback consistently highlights his ability to apply theory to practice, his engaging teaching style, and his dedication to mentorship and guidance.

As a solution architect at Shady Grove Group, Dr. Dereje Tessema has led the design, development, deployment, and support for its flagship Educational Technology (EdTech) product suite, EduSuite360, a comprehensive solution supporting the higher education community experience at all stages. Dr. Tessema holds the license rights for the product. His leadership in developing EduSuite360 demonstrates his ability to translate educational theory into practical technology solutions that address real challenges in higher education administration, teaching, and student engagement.

The EduSuite360 platform includes three powerful components:

EduTrack serves as the cornerstone of administrative efficiency within educational institutions. This system functions as the central hub for storing and managing all student-related data within the EduSuite360 platform. It streamlines administrative processes, enhances data security, and provides powerful analytics capabilities to support institutional decision-making.

EduLearn is a robust platform designed to facilitate online learning and course management. It empowers educators to create engaging digital learning experiences, deliver course content, and assess student progress effectively. The system supports various learning modalities, interactive content creation, and seamless integration with virtual classroom environments.

EduCustomer is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) system designed specifically for higher education institutions as part of the larger Ed-tech solution, EduSuite360. It manages the complete student lifecycle from prospect to alumni, enhancing recruitment efforts, improving student retention, and strengthening institutional relationships with all stakeholders.

Dr. Dereje Tessema’s academic journey reflects a lifelong commitment to education across multiple disciplines and continents. His formal education began in Ethiopia with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Alemaya University (1987), followed by a Master of Science in Engineering with a focus on Integrated Water Resource Management from Ostfalia University of Applied Science in Germany (1993).

After moving to the United States, he earned a Master of Science in Information and Telecommunication Systems for Business from Johns Hopkins University (2003), complemented by specialized certifications in Project Management from George Washington University (2008) and Federal Enterprise Architecture from California State University/FEAC Institute (2005).

Dr. Tessema completed his first PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University in 2010, with a dissertation examining the relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership in project management that was selected as a finalist for the Academy of Management’s best paper award. He is currently pursuing a second PhD in Sustainability at Capital Technology University, expected to be completed in May 2025, focusing on the Pillars of Organizational Transformation and Agility.

As a scholar, Dr. Tessema has published extensively, authoring books including “How this Happened: Demystifying the Nile History and Events Leading to the Realization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)” (2023) and “How this Happened – Election 2012: Perfecting the Science of Presidential Campaigning” (2013). His peer-reviewed articles explore topics ranging from emotional intelligence and transformational leadership to data management and economic analysis, published in journals such as the Journal of Leadership Studies, Project Management Journal, and International Journal of Economic Research.

Dr. Tessema maintains active membership in numerous professional organizations including the American Society for Public Administration, Academy of Management (across five divisions), Organizational Development Network, Project Management Institute, Federal Enterprise Architecture Institute, and Sigma Iota Epsilon. These affiliations reflect his commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and professional development at the intersection of management, technology, and organizational transformation.