Dr. Grace Faraja Nkundabantu

Dr. Grace Faraja Nkundabantu joins the Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies as an Adjunct Professor of Women's Leadership, bringing over 15 years of experience empowering and advocating for women across sub-Saharan Africa.

Currently, Dr. Nkundabantu serves as Founder and CEO of the African Girls Hope Foundation, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to provide underprivileged aged girls in sub-Saharan Africa access to high-quality formal education.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Nkundabantu holds a PhD in Human and Social Services with an emphasis in Global Human Services from Walden University's College of Behavioral Sciences. She also obtained her master’s in organizational management from Ashford University and a bachelor’s in accounting with a minor in Economics from Daystar University.

Recognized internationally, Dr. Nkundabantu received the 2014 Refugee Voice Award and the 2019 Dr. Nina Meyerhof Leadership Award for her outstanding dedication to catalyzing social change and alleviating poverty and injustice globally. In 2023 she was a recipient of the Timothy Bowles African Human Rights Leadership Award. Her wealth of experience empowering refugee women and spearheading community engagement initiatives position her as an incredible asset for mentoring and developing female leaders of tomorrow.