Originally from Spokane, Washington, Abigail attended the Columbia University-Sciences Po Dual BA Program. She spent two years studying social sciences and languages in Normandy, France and earned a degree in history. At Columbia University in New York, she earned a BA in East Asian Studies. During the summer of her freshman year, Abigail studied Mandarin in Changchun, China as an awardee of the State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship.

During her time at Columbia, she was awarded a Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowship. She also tutored at-risk youth in high school geometry, worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Watson Library, and organized on-campus events for critical discussions surrounding environmental issues. After graduating from university, Abigail spent the summer teaching English in Zhejiang and Hainan. She has since worked in public relations as well as teaching and tutoring. As a patient and encouraging mentor, Abigail loves to help students unlock their creativity and find their unique voice through their writing and other forms of self-expression.

Abigail is an avid traveler who enjoys yoga, reading, playing the violin in a rock band, and spending time with her pets. She has visited China five times for work, study, and leisure.