Dawit Dibekulu Alem
Dr. Dawit Dibekulu Alem is an Assistant Professor of English Literature in the Department of English Language and Literature at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. Since September 2026 Dr. Dawit has served as the university’s Director of Internal Research Projects, and since January 2026 as Editor-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Journal of Language, Culture and Communication (EJLCC).
Dr. Dawit earned a PhD in Literature from Bahir Dar University (2024), an MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Debre Markos University (2019) and a BA in English Language and Literature from Woldia University (2014). Before joining Bahir Dar University, Dr. Dawit taught at Mekdela Amba University (also coordinating the English Language Improvement Centre, research and community service, and university–industry linkage) and at Debre Markos University. Earlier roles include Public and International Relations Expert at the Ethiopian National Cultural Center and secondary-school English teacher in Addis Ababa.
The research moves between literature, psychology and language education: psychoanalytic readings of mourning, melancholia and ambivalence in contemporary Amharic novels; nation, gender and memory in Ethiopian and African writing; the history and digital revival of Gə’əz; proverbs and ecological knowledge; and the place of artificial intelligence in authorship, academic integrity and African higher education. This work appears in venues including PLOS ONE, AI and Ethics, Society, Human Ecology, Sexuality & Culture, Discover Education and with publishers such as Springer Nature, SAGE and Routledge.
Dr. Dawit serves on the Editorial Board of PLOS ONE, the International Journal of Qualitative Methods (SAGE), Literary Horizons Review and the International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, and reviews for Springer journals, Open Research Europe and many international journals. Dr. Dawit is a member of the African Literature Association, TESOL International Association and the AEGIS Collaborative Research Group on African Literatures, and directs the Bahir Dar Chapter of the World Association of Authors and Researchers.
Literature, for Dr. Dawit, is a way of reading a society’s inner life. The research brings psychoanalytic theory into conversation with Amharic and African fiction, oral tradition and proverb, asking how communities grieve, remember, desire and imagine the nation.
That literary work sits alongside a long commitment to language education, from secondary-school classrooms in Addis Ababa to postgraduate seminars, and a growing interest in how artificial intelligence is reshaping authorship, reading and academic integrity in African universities.
Research interests
Experience
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Sep 2026 – PresentCurrent
Director, Internal Research Projects
Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Leads the coordination of the university’s internally funded research projects.
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Jan 2026 – PresentCurrent
Editor-in-Chief, Ethiopian Journal of Language, Culture and Communication (EJLCC)
Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Leads the editorial direction and peer-review process of the journal.
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Nov 2024 – PresentCurrent
Assistant Professor of English Literature
Bahir Dar University · Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Teaching and course development, postgraduate supervision, research and publication, committee service and institutional outreach.
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Aug 2024 – Oct 2024
Assistant Professor
Mekdela Amba University · South Wollo, Ethiopia
Designed and delivered literature courses, supervised projects and contributed to curriculum development and academic events.
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Aug 2021 – Jan 2022
Lecturer & University–Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer Director
Mekdela Amba University · South Wollo, Ethiopia
Led university–industry linkage and technology transfer alongside teaching.
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Aug 2020 – Dec 2021
Lecturer & Research and Community Service Coordinator, Common Course College
Mekdela Amba University · South Wollo, Ethiopia
Coordinated research and community service (consulting, trainings and research preparation) and served on institutional committees.
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Aug 2019 – Aug 2020
Lecturer & English Language Improvement Centre (ELIC) Coordinator
Mekdela Amba University · South Wollo, Ethiopia
Taught, advised students and coordinated the ELIC’s consulting, trainings and teaching materials.
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Feb 2017 – Aug 2019
Assistant Lecturer
Debre Markos University · Debre Markos, Ethiopia
Taught and assessed students in the language laboratory; participated in research and community service.
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Sep 2015 – Jan 2017
Public and International Relations Expert
Ethiopian National Cultural Center, Ministry of Culture and Tourism · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Prepared news, brochures, speeches and the centre’s magazine; oversaw print materials, stage coordination and media relations.
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Feb 2015 – Sep 2015
English Teacher
Efoyeta Secondary School, Addis Ababa City Administration · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Taught and assessed English; coordinated the school mini-media club.
Academic formation
PhD in Literature
Bahir Dar University
Doctoral research on psychoanalytic readings of mourning, melancholia and ambivalence in contemporary Amharic novels.
Higher Diploma Programme (HDP)
Mekdela Amba University
Professional qualification in higher-education teaching.
MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Debre Markos University
Graduated as an honoured student.
BA in English Language and Literature
Woldia University
Honoured student in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Editorial boards, review & networks
Editorial boards7
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Ethiopian Journal of Language, Culture and Communication (EJLCC) Editor-in-Chief2026–now
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PLOS ONE Editorial Board Member2023–now
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International Journal of Qualitative Methods (SAGE) Editorial Board Member2025–now
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Literary Horizons Review Editorial Board Member2025–now
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International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies (AESS Publications) Editorial Board Member2025–now
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BSSJ English Language and Literature Editor2024–now
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Acta Scientific Computer Sciences Review Board Member2024–now
Peer review9
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Springer Journals Reviewer2025–now
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Open Research Europe Reviewer2025–now
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Journal of Education, Society and Behavioral Science Reviewer2024–now
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Journal of Engineering Research and Reports Reviewer2022–now
- 2021–now
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International Research Journals Reviewer2021–now
- 2020–now
- 2019–now
- 2019–2019
Memberships & networks6
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AuthorAID / Rising Scholars Mentor
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Book of Award Committee Member
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AI for Developing Countries Forum Member
Leadership & service2
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World Association of Authors and Researchers (WAAR) Director, Bahir Dar Chapter2026–now
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Students For Liberty, Ethiopia Local Coordinator2022–now
Expertise & tools
Digital
- Microsoft Office
- Google Workspace
- Adobe Photoshop & InDesign
- Zoom · Meet · Skype
- Social media management
Leadership
- Editorial leadership & peer review
- Project planning, M&E
- Public & international relations
- Team & change management
Research
- Psychoanalytic & literary criticism
- Qualitative & case-study research
- Systematic review & meta-analysis
- SPSS · STATA · R
- Academic & journal article writing
Teaching
- Curriculum & syllabus design
- Language assessment & testing
- CALL & online course development
- Materials development
- Teacher training