Title: Professor
Company: North Carolina Central University
Location: Durham, North Carolina, United States
Achamyeleh Debela, Professor at North Carolina Central University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Art and Computer Graphics.
Dr. Debela has established a distinguished career in art, computer graphics and art history, with particular expertise in African American art. For more than three decades, he has served as a professor of art and computer graphics at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, where he was recruited in 1990 to establish the university’s computer graphics division. Throughout his academic career at the institution, Dr. Debela has been instrumental in shaping the curriculum and advancing digital arts education. During his tenure, he also served as the director of the Computing Center for the Arts for 10 years, overseeing technological integration and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
In addition to his primary role at NCCU, Dr. Debela has contributed significantly to Morgan State University, teaching traditional art forms and serving as a curator at the James E. Lewis Museum of Art. His curatorial work has included organizing exhibitions that highlighted both traditional and contemporary art forms, furthering appreciation for diverse artistic expressions.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Debela works as a designer and artist for the Ethiopian Tourist Organization, with designs recognized by UNICEF and UNESCO for highlighting World Heritage sites through depictions of 11th- and 12th-century church architecture. He also frequently presents at international digital art events.
Before these appointments, Dr. Debela taught for over five years as a professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. His teaching career began after his tenure as a public relations assistant at the Walters Gallery (now Walters Art Museum) in Baltimore, Maryland, where he gained valuable experience in arts administration and public engagement.
Dr. Debela’s extensive academic background has been foundational to his professional achievements. He earned an Associate Degree from the School of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, and coursework at Addis Ababa School of Fine Arts. He then earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting and graphics from the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he studied under Grace Hartigan, a leading figure in the second generation of abstract expressionism. Moreover, Dr. Debela acquired a master’s degree in biology at Morgan State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in computer graphics and art education from The Ohio State University.
Beyond academia, Dr. Debela has been civically engaged as a board member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians for 10 years and continues to support organizations like the American Red Cross through donations of artwork for charity.
Throughout his career, Dr. Debela has achieved recognition for his artistic accomplishments and advocacy. He is particularly proud of his participation in major exhibitions, including solo shows and group displays at prestigious venues, such as the National Museum of African Art, the Ethiopian National Museum in Addis Ababa, the Smithsonian Institution, the North Carolina Museum of Art and international exhibitions in Australia, Austria, Germany and Sweden. Notably, his exhibition “Continuity and Change” showcased three generations of Ethiopian contemporary art from the 1930s to 2007. Dr. Debela’s work has also been featured at Howard University alongside prominent African American artists. He has also presented at major digital art exhibitions organized by the International Association of Electronic Arts, was selected by a German company for inclusion in a calendar featuring international electronic artists, and has been acknowledged through features at the NCCU Museum of Art and an exhibit of his drawings in Nigeria.
Dr. Debela’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including a Teaching Award of Excellence from NCCU in 2000 and 2004, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Ethiopians in the Diaspora in 2016, and a Meritorious Award from the Ethiopian people in 2025. Among other honors, he is recognized as an Honorable Associate of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Debela credits his longevity to a profound love for teaching, a steadfast dedication to education and a deep appreciation for art. Exposure to diverse cultures through travel and participation in historic exhibitions has enriched his perspective and informed his creative practice.
Looking ahead, Dr. Debela remains committed to furthering research on significant heritage sites while developing new designs in his digital studio. He is also dedicated to advocating for the return of national heritage items looted between 1935 and 1941 that are currently housed abroad.
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