CGT Alumnus Empowers Ethiopian Youth With National Debate Initiative
Tesfamichael Negussie Class of 2026 is highlighted for his work as a graduate MA student in Global Thought at Columbia University.
Tesfamichael Neguisse is a 2026 graduate of the MA in Global Thought at Columbia University and a recipient of the Davis Projects for Peace grant.
Michael also earned a BA in politics and art from Pomona College. In 2024, Michael was part of the inaugural cohort of the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellows. This grant allowed Michael to travel to Ethiopia, where he founded the Ethiopian Public Debate Program, an initiative designed to cultivate critical thinking, civic engagement, and public speaking skills among high school and university students through competitive debate. The program recruited applicants from across the country, forming a 16-member national squad drawn from public and private schools. In July 2026, five students selected from this cohort will represent Ethiopia at the World Schools Debating Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.