Abraham Teshome

Dr. Abraham Teshome earned his PhD in Social Work from Indiana University, an MSW from Addis Ababa University, and a BA in Sociology and Social Work from Ambo University. His research interests include elder well-being, aging out of place, active aging, health disparities among older immigrants, and aging policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. He received the Jerry Powers Esprit Award from the Indiana University School of Social Work in recognition of his exemplary scholarly contributions. Before joining Siena University, he taught in the BSW and MSW programs at the Indiana University School of Social Work for three years. He also has experience working with various clients as a correctional social worker and case manager. 

My Siena Experience

My Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is rooted in humanizing pedagogy, which is guided by dialogue, action, reflection, and faith in students’ capacity for learning and transformation. I believe learning should lead to social transformation, and students are more motivated to learn when their agency is recognized, a safe learning environment is created, and they are involved in co-creating knowledge.

What I Love About Siena

What I love most about Siena University is its strong commitment to Franciscan values, which emphasize respect, compassion, community, and service. I also love the small class sizes that foster meaningful connections with students and enable engaging, personalized learning. Most importantly, I have been impressed by the supportive, caring Siena community. From faculty and staff to students, there is a genuine spirit of kindness, love, collaboration, and encouragement that makes it a welcoming place to teach, learn, and grow.