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Dessalegn Guyo
Dr. Dessalegn Guyo
Assistant Professor
Social Work
Cushwa Hall 3164
phone: (330) 941-3337
Bio
Dessalegn Negeri Guyo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Youngstown State University, where he has served since January 2022. He has over 20 years of experience in teaching, research, and community engagement across international and local universities, holding roles that include Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Professor, Visiting Professor, Lecturer, and Graduate Assistant. Dr. Guyo has practiced social work in multiple settings, including training and social work advisor in family and juvenile court systems, case manager with Homeless populations, consultant with immigrant communities from Africa and Asia, youth mentoring and mental health, community organization, and resource mobilization for victims of violence. His professional commitments also extend to human rights advocacy. He has published books and peer-reviewed articles and served as a reviewer for the Journal of Social Welfare and Policy Practice, the Journal of Childcare Practices, and the Council on Social Work Education. He has presented his scholarly work at numerous national and international conferences, including the Chadwick Center for Children and Families, the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD), UNICEF, the Oromo Studies Association, and American World Adoption. Dr. Guyo currently serves as Vice President of the Oromo Studies Association’s International Think Tank Group.
Research Interests
Child protection and child welfare systems, Indigenous adoption practices, Indigenous knowledge systems, Community development, Social work pedagogy, displacement and Immigration, Women’s roles and status in agro‑industrial sectors, youth mental health and wellbeing, mental health and addiction, implicit bias and contemporary social issues
Teaching Interests
Social Work Foundation Practices II
Business skills in social work
Practice evaluations,
Trauma Informed Care
Oppression and Cultural competence
Social Research Methods/Statistics
social policy development and analysis,
Integrated foundations,
social work groups
International Social work
Generalist social work with Larger groups and Communities
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2014
Ph D, Social work and Social Development
Addis Ababa University
Dissertation/Thesis Title — "Rigorous Beginning and ‘Dead Ends’: Community-based Child Protection Network in Adama City"
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2006
MA, Social Work
Addis Ababa University, School of Social Work
Dissertation/Thesis Title — "Guddifachaa/ Adoption Practice as Community based child problem Intervention: Case of Ada'a Liban District "
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2001
BA, Sociology and Social Administration
Addis Ababa University
Dissertation/Thesis Title — "Role and status conditions of women in Agro-Industry_ The case of Finca'a Sugar Factory"
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2025
"Opening the Cultural Enigma to Survive: The ‘Gangster’ Adoption (Guddifachaa) Practices Experience of Orphaned Child in Arada Sub-City"
D. Guyo
Journal of Social Work and Social Welfare Policy, volume 3, issue 1, p. 8
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2023
"Utilizing Professional Expertise in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Strategic Interventions Preparation for Crisis Mitigation in Oromia"
D. Guyo
Journal of Oromo Studies (JOS), volume (MNS-ID-JOS-2023-0018.R1), issue 1, p. 133-150
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2019
"Social work in African context: MSW teaching modules"
D. Guyo
, volume Block 2, issue 1, p. 71 -
2011
"Insights from participatory development approach in Ethiopia: analysis of testimonies and field practices"
D. Guyo, W. Kebede, M. Getu
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2011
"GUDDIFACHAA PRACTICE: As Community Based Child Problem Intervention in Oromo of Ada'a Liban"
D. Guyo
VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, DVM publication, p. 120
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2025 - present
Reviewer, Conference Paper
Council of Social Work Education -
2024 - present
Reviewer, Journal Article
Journal of Social Work and Welfare Policy -
2024 - 2024
Other
Youngstown State University Quest 2024: a Forum for Student Scholarship -
2024 - 2024
Reviewer, Journal Article
Journal of Human Rights and Social Work -
2023 - 2023
Reviewer, Journal Article
Journal of Human Rights and Social Work -
2022 - present
Member
Council Of social work Education -
2017 - present
Member
Oromo Studies Association
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2025 - present
President
OSA -
2023 - present
Volunteer
Upwardly Global -
2023 - 2023
Volunteer
United Way -
2023 - present
Committee Member
Oromo Intellectual society -
2023 - present
Member
Columbus Oromo community -
2022 - present
Volunteer
Evergreen Seventh Day Adventist church -
2020 - present
Chair
Global Oromo Advocacy Group - Eastern USA -
2018 - 2020
Board Member
Oromo Community Organization -
2017 - 2022
Guest Speaker
Torture Abolition And Survivors Support Coalition International