TEMESGEN DERESSA
Silver Spring,MD
Summary
Senior Data Scientist with over 10 years of experience delivering high-impact analytical solutions at the intersection of Agentic AI, Econometrics, and National Policy. Recently completed the Google AI Agents Intensive (2025), specializing in architecting RAG-style workflows and multi-agent LLM systems. Expert in building end-to-end ML lifecycles within Databricks and Azure to solve complex risk-assessment challenges. Proven ability to translate 'black-box' model behaviors into actionable strategies for executive leadership and mission-facing operators in federal and financial environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Data Scientist & BI Analyst
Exeter Finance
01.2019 - Current
- Risk Modeling: Designed and deployed production-level classification models that reduced loan default rates by 15% by managing the full lifecycle from data sourcing to real-time inference.
- Modern Data Stack: Architected automated ETL pipelines within Databricks and Azure, optimizing the processing of large, messy datasets for feature engineering and model training.
- Actionable Intelligence: Created interactive dashboards and 'visual stories' (SSRS/SQL) that translated complex model risk into intuitive formats for non-technical underwriting teams.
- Process Improvement: Identified and mitigated data bottlenecks by mapping end-to-end workflows, ensuring high model reliability and rigorous performance monitoring.
Adjunct Professor – Econometrics
George Washington University
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Technical Translation: Specialized in distilling complex statistical concepts (regression, forecasting, and AI limitations) into intuitive language for diverse audiences and senior leadership.
- Research Leadership: Managed a portfolio of research projects focusing on applied statistics, ensuring methodological rigor and actionable results for policy-oriented datasets.
Guest Scholar
Brookings Institution
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Policy Synthesis: Authored 10+ executive-ready briefings and policy papers on global development indicators, bridging the gap between data science and international policy.
Consultant – Impact Evaluation
World Bank Group
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Causal Inference for Policy: Applied advanced methods (Difference-in-Difference, Propensity Score Matching) to evaluate the effectiveness of programs in Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire.
- Stakeholder Diplomacy: Partnered with diplomats and international stakeholders to align data-driven findings with field realities and operational constraints.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluated program feasibility under extreme constraints, providing senior leadership with evidence-based mitigation strategies and resource allocation plans.
Education
Ph.D. - Environmental Economics
University of Pretoria
South AfricaM.Sc. - Environmental Economics
University of Pretoria
South AfricaB.Sc. - Agricultural Economics
University of Pretoria / Alemaya University
Skills
- Google Certified AI Agents Specialist, LLM Orchestration, RAG Architectures, Prompt Engineering, Agentic Workflows
- AI/ML Stack: XGBoost, LightGBM, Random Forest, CNN/RNN, Anomaly Detection, Time Series
- Statistical Engineering: Causal Inference (Diff-in-Difference, PSM), Hypothesis Testing, Uncertainty Quantification
- Tools & Languages: Python (Pandas, Scikit-learn, PyTorch), R, PowerBI, SSRS
- Data Ops: Databricks, Azure ML, SQL (Advanced), MLOps (MLflow), CI/CD, ETL Automation
- Strategy: Technical Storytelling, Human-Centered Design (HCD), Stakeholder Diplomacy
Certification
- Google (2025)
- TensorFlow Developer Certificate – Google/Udemy
- Best Published Article Award – Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa
- Data Analytics Certification (SQL, SSIS, SSRS) – Colaberry Inc.
Timeline
Senior Data Scientist & BI Analyst
Exeter Finance
01.2019 - Current
Adjunct Professor – Econometrics
George Washington University
01.2014 - 01.2019
Guest Scholar
Brookings Institution
01.2013 - 01.2014
Consultant – Impact Evaluation
World Bank Group
01.2011 - 01.2012
M.Sc. - Environmental Economics
University of Pretoria
B.Sc. - Agricultural Economics
University of Pretoria / Alemaya University
Ph.D. - Environmental Economics
University of Pretoria