Abiol Lual Deng serves as the Communication and Policy Specialist for the Center for African Studies and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley. In this capacity, she spearheads digital strategy and dynamic storytelling initiatives designed to elevate the Center’s profile as a premier hub for African Affairs in the Bay Area and beyond, as well as showcase the achievements of the Scholars.
With over 15 years of experience in global public policy across Africa, Europe, and North America, Ms. Deng offers a unique, multicultural, and multilingual perspective on the intersections of government relations, humanitarian affairs, and international development. Her career is defined by nearly a decade of high-stakes fieldwork with premier international organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the ICRC, the World Food Programme, and the UN Migration Agency.
Driven by a commitment to counter the decline in global humanitarian funding and engagement, Ms. Deng leverages her identity as a South Sudanese American and her deep field expertise to bridge the gap between complex geopolitics and public understanding. She is a dedicated advocate for human rights and conflict resolution in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on training the next generation of leaders to navigate the continent's evolving political landscape.
Ms. Deng has served as a visiting lecturer and fellow at Deakin University and Kunsthochschule für Medien, and as a Global Mentor for Humanitarian Action and International Development at the University of Virginia. She was also a frequent media commentator, providing analysis on democracy and humanitarian emergencies for major outlets including Deutsche Welle, CGTN, SBS, Arab News, and Mediapart.
Ms. Deng holds a BA from the University of Virginia and an M.Phil. from the Université de Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV).
intersections of government relations, humanitarian affairs, and international development
