Achievements and Experiences
Belay Alem
As a professional researcher, I’ve been fortunate to have been involved with a variety of fascinating research projects and to have had the opportunity to investigate subjects that I find particularly interesting and important. Have a look at the details of my career below and feel free to contact me with any questions or for reference requests.
Education
Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Florida, in progress
LL.M (Masters) Degree in Business and Corporate Law, Bahir Dar University School of Law, (July 2014)
LL.B (JD equivalent), Bahir Dar University School of Law, Bahir Dar Ethiopia, (July 2012)
B.A in Management, Bahir Dar University College of Business and Economics, Bahir Dar Ethiopia, (January 2014)
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching, Bahir Dar University College of Education (June 2016)
Community Development Intern (Paid), Local Initiatives Support Corporation(LISC Jacksonville, May 15-August 18, 2023
Responsibilities:
Conduct a program evaluation of heirs' property tax certificate redemption assistance to recommend best practices for LISC programs;
Learn the fundamentals of the LISC Comprehensive Community Development program in formerly redlined neighborhoods with a focus on the impacts of climate change on the natural environment;
Work closely with LISC, community partners, and consultants to conduct community-based outreach, research, data mining, and mapping activities that support family wealth creation interventions within the focal neighborhoods of Jacksonville/Duval County, Florida;
Assist program partners to perform outreach and marketing functions such as in-person surveys, focus groups, and social media campaigns to share community resources with local residents;
Engage institutional partners such as the City of Jacksonville Neighborhoods Department, Auburn University, Behavioral Insights Team, and the University of Florida Shimberg Center for Housing Studies in focused discussions that inform heirs’ property and neighborhood stabilization strategies;
Connect with LISC Community Development staff during the preparation of monthly reports, resident engagement activities, and community events in focal neighborhoods;
Develop survey tools and client persona to assess community demands for LISC programs
Legal Research Associate(Volunteer), Three Rivers Legal Service, January 2021-May 2023
Responsibilities:
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Do research about probate cases filed by the clients
Create family trees and submit to the supervisor to know exact number of heirs' and their shares over the estate thought to be probated
Participate and help in community based community outreach workshops
Conduct intake interviews for estate planning purposes
Draft legal documents
Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida( Fall 2022-Present)
Responsibilities:
Teach social/cultural anthropology courses( Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology of Race and Racism)
Assist in course administration and management.
Lead discussion sections, enhancing student comprehension.
Monitor and tracked student assignments for timely completion.
Provide technical support to students for assignment-related issues.
Hold regular office hours, addressing academic inquiries promptly.
Grade exams and ensured accurate assessment of student performance.
Perform additional duties as assigned by the course instructor.
Teaching Assistant, Center for African Studies, University of Florida, Fall 2018- Fall 2018-Fall 2022
​Responsibilities
Teach Amharic courses for FLAS and AFLI students
Review journal articles for African Studies Quarterly
Lecturer of Law, Bahir Dar University School of Law (Sep 2014-Â Aug 2018)
Responsibilities
Teach students in the regular, extension, summer, and distance programs of the Law School
Advise students in relation to courses and research
Carry out research in thematic areas identified by the Law School
Prepare teaching materials
Extend free-legal aid and community outreach service
Executive Director for Administration Affairs, Bahir Dar University (2017-2018)
Responsibilities
Supervise and administer budget and finance
Ensure procurement and property administration based on pertinent procurement and property administration laws
Ensure that employment, transfer, promotion, and demotion of employees are enforced according to civil service laws
Handle employee grievances
Oversee student service and pass strategic decisions helpful to improve students' services
Ensure the provision of general services (allocation of vehicles, offices, ensure greening and maintenance)
Oversee the administration and equitable distribution of residential houses
Instructor of Regulatory Service Department, Bahir Dar Polytechnic College, Bahir Dar (2013-2014)
Responsibilities:
Teach students in the regular programs
Advise students
Prepare teaching materials
Leadership Experience
Executive Director for Administration Affairs, Bahir Dar University, Nov 2017- April 2018
Program Manager, Bahir Dar University Digital Media Center, September- November 2017
Head of Good Governance and Discipline Affairs, BDU Student Association, 2011-2012
Head of Academic Affairs, Bahir Dar University Students' Association, 2011-2012
Internship and Volunteer Service
Associate Volunteer Researcher, Three Rivers Legal Service, Spring 2021-Present
Paid Intern Researcher, InterAfrican Group( NGO) under supervision of Amhara National State Council Law and Administration Standing Committee, 2013-2014
Free Legal Aid, Bahir Dar University Free Legal Aid Center, 2011-2012
Served as General Secretary and campaigner in the Anti-Malaria Association, 2001-2007
Member of Bahir Dar Main Committee for Awi Development Association/NGO, 2010-2018
Coordinator of Bahir Dar University Graduates Alumni, 2012- 2013
Head of Anti- Corruption and Ethics, Bahir Dar University Law Students’ Union (2008-2009)
Invited Talks and Participations
Heirs' Property and Black Property Dispossession, Beyond Borders: Securing African Features, African American and Black Lives Panel, Univesity of Florida, March 26, 2022
Property Matters in Black Lives, Black Lives Matter and International Solidarity Symposium, University of Florida, January 28-29,2022
Historical, Legal, and Practical Challenges of Acquiring and maintaining Property African American Communities in Alachua, Florida, Black History Month, US Embassy Addis Ababa, Feb 09, 2022
Tax Corruption in the small business sector, organized by Transparency Ethiopia, Bahir Dar Branch, February 2018
Protection of Children and Women under the Ethiopian Legal System, a training organized by the Bureau of Children, Women and Youth Affairs of Amhara Regional State, Injibara, Ethiopia, April 2018
Labor Rights of Hotel and Tourism private sector employees under labor law of Ethiopia, a training organized by National Federation of Hotel and Tourism Labor Associations, Ethio Star Hotel, Bahir Dar, 2017
Participated in deliberative meetings of Legislative organ (ANRS Council targeted at collecting scholarly opinions in the drafting process of income tax and income tax administration legislations, June 2015
Research and Publications
The Legal and Practical Problems of Subrogation Right Under Ethiopian Insurance Law: Analysis of Law and Practice (Amharic), Published on ANRS Justice Professionals Training and Research Institute Journal, V.2 No. 1
Good Governance and Tax Administration in ANRS: Legal and Practical Problems, (Amharic), Published on ANRS Justice Professionals Training and Research Institute Journal, V.2 No. 2
Assistant Researcher in "Gender and Modeling Research in Awramba Community"- A research conducted under the auspice of International Law and Policy Institute (Norway Based), 2015
Assistant Researcher in research titled "Gender Mainstreaming in Amhara Regional state Government Sectors"- A research Sponsored by Inter- African Group (NGO), 2014
Teaching Experiences and Invited Lectures
Invited Lecture on, "Property Dispossession, Wealth and Poverty: Implications of Heirs’ Property" for Dr. Renata Serra's undergraduate class course titled, " Wealth and Poverty", October 27, 2022
Invited Lecture on, "Reflections on grant Writing and Creating Community Engagement Programs" for Dr. Barbara Mennel's graduate seminar titled, " Grant Writing for Humanities", November 03, 2022
Taught courses, Law of Taxation, Property law, Intellectual Property Law, Law of Traders and Business Organizations, International Trade Law, Investment Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Customary Law, Bahir Dar University School of Law, Ethiopia, 2014-2018.
Taught Amharic, UF Center for African Studies, 2018-2022
Taught under the African Flagship Language Initiative program, Summers of 2019 and 2020
Teaching Assistant, Anthropology of Race and Racism, UF Department Anthropology of Anthropology, Fall 2022
Teaching Assistant, Anthropology of Global Human Kind, UF Department Anthropology of Anthropology, Spring 2023( upcoming)
Media Appearance
Constitutionality of State of Emergency decree issued to take control of the war in Tigray, Amhara TV, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2021
Rule of Law and Good Governance, Interviews on Amhara TV, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia,, 2015
Compulsory Health Insurance, Amhara TV, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2016
Professional Membership
African Studies Association since Fall 2018 (renewed every year)
Editorial team of Journal of African Studies Quarterly ASQ (Center for African Studies at the University of Florida) 2018-Present
Bahir Dar University Teachers' Association, 2015- Present​
Amhara Regional State Bar Association 2014-2018
Grants, Fellowships and Awards
University of Florida Center for African Studies, Teaching Fellowship, Fall 2018- 2022
University of Florida Department of Anthropology, Teaching Fellowship, Fall 2022-Present
Elizabeth Eddy Pre-Dissertation Doctoral Award, 2019
Tedder & Rothman Doctoral Fellowship, 2022
University of Florida Programs in Public Humanities Grants (2022-2023)
Community Engagement and Community-Based Participatory Research
Conducted in-depth research on challenges people of color face, particularly in housing and wealth preservation.
Spearheaded storytelling initiatives highlighting the experiences of the African American community in historically red-lined neighborhoods.
Produced and archived a documentary based on storytelling sessions, available at the University of Florida's digital collection. Link.
Collaborated with the A. Quinn Jones Museum to organize a series of workshops titled "HEIRS' PROPERTY AND INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH: INITIATING PUBLIC DISCUSSION", fostering public awareness and dialogue.