Originally from Johnston, Iowa, Abigail Bowman graduated from Princeton University in 2011 with a BA in Near Eastern studies and a certificate in creative writing for translation. She then moved to Istanbul, Turkey, where she completed a Fulbright Scholarship at Boğaziçi University to translate modern Turkish literature. After earning an MA in history at Sabancı University in 2014, Abigail returned to the US and joined the Department of Commerce, where she has served as the deputy director of digital engagement since 2015. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two kitties.