On November 10, 2026, Dr. Amanuel Abraha Teklemariam, professor in the Doctor of Education in Leadership (EDD) program and Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, PhD, Endowed Chair for Education, will give a public lecture at 10 am in Harrington House Library.
The title of the lecture is ‘Beyond Blind Loyalty: Reclaiming the Virtue of Disobedience.’ The lecture, drawing on literature, Biblical texts, and teachings of the Catholic Church, will illustrate how blind obedience can lead to a devastating way of life. Dr. Teklemariam hopes to demonstrate the relevance of blind loyalty to contemporary situations, particularly post-independence Eritrea.
Dr. Teklemariam is a lifelong learner and educator whose professional journey reflects a deep integration of faith, ethics, and leadership. With over twenty-eight years of experience in higher education, he has served as both a lecturer and an administrator across Africa and the United States. His educational path began in a Catholic school run by the De La Salle Brothers, where he first encountered the formative power of faith-based education—a foundation that continues to guide his teaching and scholarship.
He earned his Bachelor of Education in Social Ethics and Christian Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning from Kenyatta University. He later completed his Doctorate in Leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where he now serves as a professor on the Minneapolis campus.
His research explores Character Education through indigenous African perspectives, emphasizing the moral wisdom embedded in traditional cultures, and has extensive publications in refereed journals, undergraduate textbooks, and seminar proceedings.
Motivated by the conviction that education and faith are inseparable in shaping virtuous and compassionate leaders, Dr. Teklemariam seeks to deepen his character and virtue education for understanding to further bridge the worlds of faith, education, and human development.
Light refreshments will be served.
