Senior Policy Analyst

Nawal Umar, MPH joins SIECUS as a Senior Policy Analyst. She is responsible for tracking and monitoring state, local, and federal policies and impending legislation related to sex education and other progressive sexual and reproductive health issues. She also develops and manages several SIECUS publications and provides general assistance and support toward advancing key initiatives at SIECUS.

In addition to her role at SIECUS, Nawal serves as a board member for the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA), where she contributes to efforts aimed at addressing public health disparities within South Asian communities.

Prior to joining SIECUS, Nawal earned her Master of Public Health degree in Sociomedical Sciences with a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual, and Reproductive Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. While at Mailman, she developed and wrote her culminating thesis on a research proposal exploring parent-teen communication about sex and sexual health in Muslim-American families. Her research interests include advocating for comprehensive, inclusive, and culturally responsive sexuality education, reproductive justice, and resolving sexual health disparities. Her previous experience includes working as both a sex educator and health educator, as well as being involved in qualitative public health research.

Nawal received her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Social/Behavioral Science before pursuing her graduate degree.