Ohio top community leader and Executive Director of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, ETSS, Dr. Seleshi Asfaw has joined the eight new board members and two board fellows of the United Way of Central Ohio’s board of trustees, making him a likely first new American to be so appointed.

Other members and fellows on the board of trustees include Dawn Barkley, Community Volunteer and Advocate, Dorian Bass, Big Lots, Dr. Angela M. Chapman, Columbus City Schools – Ohio, John Coneglio, Columbus Education Association, and Doreen DeLaney Crawley, Grange Insurance.

Also appointed to the board of trustees are Maria Haberman, American Electric Power, Melissa Marino, Mary Rutan Health, Morgan Williams Glasser, Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE), and Matthew Zarnosky, Union Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (URE).

“We are thrilled to have contributions, partnership and sound oversight from these innovative and committed community leaders,” the United Way of Central Ohio said on its LinkedIn social media handle.

United Way of Central Ohio President & CEO, Dr. Lisa S. Courtice said “I have worked with Dr. Seleshi for 20 years and I am so proud that he agreed to join our board of trustees.”

In his response, Dr Seleshi Asfaw who cofounded the nonprofit organization, ETSS in 2000 as an outreach organization focused on the Ethiopian refugee and immigrant community said “I am deeply honored to serve on the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Central Ohio, a pivotal organization driving growth and economic development in our region.

“In this role, I pledge to be a vocal advocate for our community, leveraging my experiences to promote belongingness and contribute to the creation of a diverse and equitable society.”

Dr. Seleshi added that “The birth of ETSS was supported by United Way of Central Ohio through the Capacity Building Initiative.”

United Way of Central Ohio Director of Content & Communications Jill L. Geiger said “We are all very excited to have Dr. Asfaw join our board and are looking forward to working closely with him.”

“United Way of Central Ohio has partnered with Dr. Asfaw for many years, and he is a passionate and dedicated leader who knows firsthand the challenges new immigrants face and how best to assist them as they transition to life in the United States.

“I have personally worked with him for 20 years, and I know he will bring an important and unique perspective to our board of trustees. I am so proud that he agreed to serve as a member of our board!”

“It is possible that he is the first New American, but we don’t know for certain. United Way of Central Ohio has been serving our community for 100 years, and we have been a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion for decades. We recognize the importance of having diverse perspectives and voices in every aspect of our work.”

Dr. Seleshi and other new members of the board of trustees will serve “a three-year term on the board, and it is renewable.”

United Way of Central Ohio supports a network of 91 local nonprofits working to ensure people in crisis can meet their basic needs, and children have equal opportunities to achieve student success.

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