Advisory Board Member
Dr. Tadios Belay is the President and CEO of the U.S. Africa Institute, an academic institution that stands at the forefront of fostering academic partnerships and public diplomacy between the United States and Africa. Under his leadership, the Institute champions access to higher education and promotes U.S.-Africa relations through exchange programs and academic collaboration, furthering educational equity for historically underserved students with a comprehensive range of programs and initiatives both in California and nationwide.
Dr. Belay’s career includes serving as a Fulbright Specialist, a prestigious role funded by the U.S. Department of State, where he contributed to the capacity building of higher education institutions. His efforts spanned a variety of critical areas, including institutional partnerships, higher education leadership, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and the promotion of democratic values and human rights. Moreover, Dr. Belay’s dedication to human rights advocacy was recognized during his tenure as a Human Rights Fellow at the United States Human Right Network and as a Principal Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
His contributions to community service have been acknowledged with numerous awards, including recognition from the City of Los Angeles, the California State Assembly, and the 15th Assembly District as a Community Change-Maker, in addition to receiving the 7th Annual Juneteenth Image Award and African Leadership Achievement Award.
Dr. Belay is deeply committed to community service, serving as a board president and member on various community and academic boards. Dr. Tadios Belay’s leadership and initiatives have significantly illuminated his commitment to improving access to higher education for historically underserved students and his contributions extend far beyond the academic realm, underscoring a deep dedication to fostering robust U.S.-Africa relations through university partnerships, exchange programs and public diplomacy.
Dr. Belay’s rich educational background spans continents, with a Doctorate in Policy and Global Education from the University of Southern California (USC), a law degree from the USF School of Law, with a specialization in international law, and is an alumnus of the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. His research explored the complex interplay between education, identity, culture, and the experiences of Black students in predominantly White Colleges and Universities.