Harvard Appoints Ghanaian Scholar as Teaching Fellow

Harvard University has appointed Ghanaian scholar Elom Tettey-Tamaklo as a Graduate Teaching Fellow, less than two years after he faced charges linked to a tense campus protest involving an Israeli student.

Tettey-Tamaklo, 29, completed his master’s degree in Religion, Ethics and Politics at the Harvard Divinity School in May 2024. He began the fellowship in August 2025. His professional records show that he now supports faculty with curriculum development, academic design, and consultations on migration, development and global political issues.

Teaching fellows at Harvard typically earn between $3,400 and $11,040 per term, depending on department and workload.

Tettey-Tamaklo first drew national attention in October 2023 after a viral video showed him and two other students confronting Israeli business student Yoav Segev during a “die-in” protest held after Hamas’ attack on Israel. The incident led to misdemeanor charges and an FBI inquiry, sparking widespread political debate.

A Boston Municipal Court judge later ordered him to complete an anger-management programme, an advanced negotiation course and 80 hours of community service. The case was dismissed in November 2024 after he met all requirements.

Harvard did not impose academic penalties but removed him from his student proctor role, citing concerns raised by other students. Despite that, he won a $65,000 Harvard Law Review fellowship, which drew mixed public reactions.

He was not the only student charged. Harvard Law School graduate Ibrahim Bharmal faced similar accusations and also continued to receive academic opportunities, including a fellowship.

Both students denied physically assaulting Segev and claimed the Harvard University Police Department acted with racial bias, according to the Harvard Crimson. Police reports, however, listed them among the most forceful protesters.

Segev has since filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Harvard failed to protect him and obstructed his attempts to seek disciplinary action. He argues that the institution’s internal processes misled him during the criminal investigation.

The case continues to shape debates around campus speech, student activism and institutional accountability at Harvard.