Getahun will research The Red Terror, when a group of people were imprisoned, tortured and killed between 1977 and 1979 because of communist military rulers. Being born and raised in Ethiopia, Getahun has a personal attachment to his research.
Getahun says he wants to spread awareness of the catastrophe by examining court documents, interviewing survivors of the genocide and identifying those responsible for the massive killings.
“Many people know about the Red Terror in Ethiopia, but I want to give the world a more detailed report on this terrible time,” Getahun said. “My goal is to make it so that someone won’t need to be an Ethiopian to understand the suffering that the people went through.”
The Fulbright Scholar Program each year funds all expenses for 800 U.S faculty and professionals to pursue graduate study, advanced research and various teaching opportunities. Getahun says being chosen from the thousands of applications submitted has been a proud moment.
The Fulbright program is one of the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange programs in the world, according to Susan Pittman, Director of Media Relations for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
“Getahun was chosen because he has a strong academic background, leadership potential, a passion for increasing mutual understanding among nations and cultures, and the adaptability and flexibility to pursue his proposed Fulbright project,” Pittman said.
This is Getahun’s second Fulbright award; the first was in 2002 when he published a book and two book chapters based on his studies of Ethiopian history.
CMU Clinton Township senior Stephanie Jackowski received a Fulbright student award in April to teach English in northern Poland. Jackowski will be leaving for 10 months in September to teach at the University of Gdansk.
