#PolicyProfile: Ayah Abdelwahab, MPA ’27

“I grew up in Bogart, Georgia, in a working-class community just a few miles from the University of Georgia. That proximity meant I witnessed starkly different realities side by side. Our county has one of the highest rates of income inequality for its size, and seeing how disparities in access to education, health care, and jobs shaped people’s long-term outcomes was formative. As a first-generation American with family roots in Egypt, I also saw how barriers to basic needs — whether in Georgia or abroad — can undermine opportunity. Those experiences sparked my commitment to addressing inequities and expanding access to the economic foundations people need to thrive. As a student at UGA, I worked as a legislative director for Georgia State House Representative Spencer Frye during the COVID-19 pandemic, working alongside a student-led team to craft responsive state policies — helping think through everything from mobile clinics to creative community outreach under unprecedented constraints. That experience taught me that good policy is not just about design; it’s about implementation and adaptability. After undergrad, I joined the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of International Affairs. I focused on macroeconomic policy and international development, grappling with a core question: In a world of constant economic shocks, how can countries strike the right balance between immediate stabilization and long-term development? I became especially interested in policy mixes that protect vulnerable populations while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth. Now, as a MPA student at Princeton SPIA focusing on international development, I’m deepening my commitment to evidence-based, community-centered policy. I’m drawn to collaborative spaces that challenge me to think across disciplines and perspectives. My goal is to be a flexible, creative public servant — someone who builds policies that promote economic development while maximizing respect for human rights.”