Sileshie Semahagne Kumlachew

Areas of responsibility

Sileshie Semahagne is a PhD research fellow at the University of Agder, Norway, since 2019. He is currently researching the recent state of the Orthodox Tewahdo Church and its relationship with politics and media in Ethiopia. He has also taught part of courses such as World Christianity and Religion and Violence for Masters students in the Department of Religion, Philosophy and History at the University of Agder. In 2018, he completed his Masters in Global Journalism in Norway, where he analysed the changes over time and the visibility of religion in the Ethiopian media. He is a former Assistant Professor of Journalism and Communication at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. There he taught courses on media, journalism, public relations and media translation to journalism and communication students. He was also involved in research and community service activities. Between 2012 and 2015, he coordinated an exchange project programme (from the Ethiopian side) between Ethiopian and Swedish teachers and students - Linnaeus-Palme Teacher and Student Exchange Project. Meanwhile, he has also worked as the Academic Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Bahir Dar University. He also served as the Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at the same university. In 2011, he completed his Master's degree in Journalism and Communication at Addis Ababa University. In his thesis, he demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating radio messages with interpersonal communication efforts by comparing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of rural Ethiopian radio listeners who undergo formal follow-up discussions with those who simply listen without follow-up discussions, using a quasi-experimental method. He then went to the University of Oslo where he studied Media Studies in a summer programme. Upon his return, he joined the Department of Journalism and Communication at Bahir Dar University as a lecturer and worked in the above positions until August 2015 when he came to Norway for his Master's degree. He completed his BA in Journalism and Communication at Bahir Dar University in 2008, where he was employed as a graduate assistant upon completion. He also completed his Diploma in History and taught Ethiopian History at a rural primary school and then at Feresbet Secondary School before joining Bahir Dar University for his studies.