Brenda Abdelall

Brenda Fathy Abdelall is an Egyptian-American lawyer, civil rights advocate, and government official. She currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Abdelall is recognized for her work in public policy, human rights advocacy, and building partnerships between the federal government and marginalized communities.
==Early Life and Education==
Brenda Abdelall grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a family engaged in political activism. Her mother, Mona Abdelall, was a prominent community organizer and helped establish the local chapter of the American Muslim Council (AMC), which focused on advancing political and civil rights for Muslims in the U.S.
Abdelall earned a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Political Science and Arabic Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan in 2002. She then attended the University of Michigan Law School, where she received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2005. During law school, Abdelall was an advocate for minority rights and was actively involved in the Michigan Journal of Law Reform as an editorial board member. She co-founded the Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association (MENALSA) to support Arab American law students and promote minority representation in legal education.
==Career==
* Early Career: ACLU and Sidley Austin LLP
Abdelall began her legal career as a Legal Fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Washington, D.C. At the ACLU, she contributed to legal memoranda on First Amendment issues and researched a wide range of constitutional matters.
From 2006 to 2011, Abdelall worked as an Associate at Sidley Austin LLP, a leading global law firm. At Sidley Austin, she represented clients in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, focusing on regulatory compliance and internal investigations. Abdelall advised clients on policy matters and compliance with federal regulations.
* New York University Abu Dhabi
In 2011, Abdelall relocated to the United Arab Emirates, where she joined New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) as a Resident Assistant Instructor. At NYUAD, she co-taught a course with university President John Sexton that examined the relationship between government and religion, with a focus on U.S. Supreme Court cases regarding the First Amendment. Abdelall also served as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, where she developed and managed a comprehensive compliance program designed to monitor the rights of migrant laborers employed by the university’s contractors.
* U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In August 2022, Abdelall was appointed Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role, she advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on external relations and community engagement, particularly with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as non-governmental organizations. Abdelall's work focuses on building partnerships with minority and immigrant communities to ensure their voices are heard in policy-making. She also co-chairs the DHS Council to Combat Gender-Based Violence, promoting initiatives to combat violence against women and gender equity policies.
* 2024 Kamala Harris Presidential Campaign
In 2024, Abdelall joined the Kamala Harris presidential campaign as the Deputy Director of Arab American Outreach. In this role, she worked on engaging Arab American voters and addressed policy concerns affecting the Arab American community, particularly in relation to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
==Personal Life==
Brenda Abdelall maintains close ties to the Arab and Muslim-American communities. She is the founder of **midEATS**, a blog that explores Middle Eastern cuisine and culture. Through this platform, she has written about cultural preservation and the importance of food in connecting immigrant communities to their heritage.
==Awards and Recognition==
* **Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Distinguished Service Medal** (2024)
* **Capital Area Muslim Bar Association Impact Award** (2023)
* **Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono Award** (2007, 2008, 2009)
==Publications==
* Abdelall, B. F. (2005). *Not Enough of a Minority? Arab Americans and the Language Assistance Provisions of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act*. Michigan Journal of Law Reform, 38(4), 911.
* Abdelall, B. F. (2015). *Forging Ahead: A Contemporary Review of Egyptian Press and Media Laws*. In P. Molnar (Ed.), *Free Speech and Censorship Around the Globe*. Cambridge University Press.
Category:People from Ann Arbor, Michigan
Category:Lawyers
Category:Civil rights activists
Category:Government officials