Nehemia Abel is a Burundian refugee born in Tanzania. As a first-generation college student, he received a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Mary Washington. His journey to the United States ignited his passion for public service and added impetus to his pursuit of a foreign service career. To better serve the community of refugees in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he co-founded an organization called Ubumwe. The organization seeks to unify and empower Burundian refugees as they pursue higher education and careers by providing mentorship programs and networking opportunities.

Previously, Nehemia worked as a Fellow for the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, researching best business practices to reestablish America as Africa’s premier trade and investment partner. He also worked as a Legislative Fellow for Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, on policy issues concerning economic development, immigration, and foreign affairs. Thanks to the USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship, Nehemia will acquire tangible skills and experiences needed to tackle the global challenges of our time while in the GHD program. In his spare time, you can catch him playing soccer and board games with his family and friends.