Fikadu Alemayehu is a Researcher with IMPART Alliance at Michigan State University, bringing more than 15 years of academic leadership, applied research, and community engagement to the team. He joined IMPART Alliance in August 2025, inspired by its mission to strengthen Michigan’s direct care workforce and improve the lives of older adults and care recipients.
Originally from Ethiopia, Alemayehu previously served as Head of the Human Nutrition Department at Hawassa University, where he led grant development, helped establish a Ph.D. program, and supported nonprofit initiatives. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Copenhagen and completed significant doctoral work in community nutrition at Ghent University in Belgium before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a transition to the United States. He then continued his academic path by beginning a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at the University of Nebraska. While at UNL, he spent three years with Rural Prosperity Nebraska, contributing to small-town development through research and student partnerships.
At IMPART Alliance, Alemayehu contributes to statewide implementation of the $25 million MDHHS-funded workforce development project, supports grant writing—including a recent $5.5 million proposal—and collaborates with partners to expand training, credentialing, and career pathways for direct care workers.
He is especially motivated by amplifying the voices of direct care workers and underserved communities. Among his proudest moments is contributing to the launch of Michigan’s Direct Care Worker Career Center and supporting the creation of the state’s first Direct Care Worker Association. For Alemayehu, caregiving is a calling, and he is committed to a future in which direct care workers receive the recognition, respect, and support they deserve.
