Solomon Gebru
UMGC Global Graduate Representative
Biography
My name is Solomon Gebru. Before moving to the United States, I was born and raised in Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa. After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked as a research associate at the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), which is equivalent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and later became the youngest Medical Technology College dean at the age of 28. I relocated to the United States to pursue my graduate studies.
My educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology, a Master of Science in clinical biochemistry, and a PhD in molecular micro/cell biology. After receiving a PhD in molecular oncology/molecular biology from Howard University, I taught life science courses for more than 10 years—two years full-time and then as an adjunct professor. I've spent the last 15 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a research scientist, principal investigator (PI), and subject matter expert (SME).
I recently completed the graduate certificate in project management and am currently pursuing my Master of Science in information technology with a specialization in project management, both at UMGC.
I currently live in Maryland with my wife and our two young adult children. In my spare time, I enjoy doing things with my hands, such as woodworking, gardening, listening to music, and volunteering. I also enjoy reading fiction, watching movies, and going for walks.
As a member of the advisory council, I will have the opportunity to express my thoughts on any improvements to the graduate program that could be made based on my experience and what I've learned from classmates about how smoothly and successfully the program will run.
My favorite quotation is “the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” (Nelson Mandela)