Nebal Abu Abdo, is about to begin her first year of her Master’s program in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights at American University with a concentration in Middle Eastern Politics: Identity, Nationalism, and Women’s Rights. Nebal, specifically, focuses on the Palestinian identity in the United States, and how the Palestinian identity is examined, when it comes to identity politics in the United States. In addition, she also, examines the Muslim and Woman identity, and where the intersectionality lies in examining the categorization of the Palestinian identity in the United States and internationally. Nebal hopes to gain more opportunities for research during her program, and she will also, be working as a graduate research assistant at American University.

Prior to her Master’s degree program, Nebal Abu Abdo gained her two bachelor degrees in Political Science and Behavioral Science and her two minors in Philosophy and Psychology from Columbia College. She graduate magnum cum laude cum honore from the Columbia College Honors College. Nebal is dedicated and is passionate about social justice. Her passion developed from her Palestinian immigrant parents who have taught her the importance of fighting for equal rights for Muslims, and people who come from minoritized populations.  Her passion for social justice inspired her to not only to get into the Political Science field, but also to help bridge the gap through the scholarly perspective, when looking at identity politics. She is an an advocate and activist, who strives to bring change not only to her community, but to help bring social equity and equality through reform and policy. She has been able to gain first hand experience, in understanding how much of an impact policy can have on minoritized populations by helping refugees through translating and helping  refugees find jobs under certain requirements.

She also had the opportunity to learn more about how to create impact and unite a community by being selected for the first cohort of the Obama Foundation Community Leadership Corps. Through the Obama Foundation, Nebal was able to receive training’s on how to collaborate with community members to help make a positive impact in the surrounding community that each person is part of. Nebal was part of a group of students who led an initiative to help bring change on their college campus to create a more diverse and inclusive environment, especially with creating a better understanding for Muslim students and students who come from minoritized populations on her campus. Through the experiences that Nebal has had, her intention is to continue her social justice work by going through her Master’s program, and receive her Ph.D. and JD. She hopes to gain valuable experiences through her social justice work and internships to help her become a better advocate and activist for policy and reform.