Prior to joining EWI, Abagail worked for several years in and alongside the United Nations, focusing on conflict resolution and international human rights as well as UN reform issues. Most recently she served as Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council, where she facilitated relationships between civil society organizations and the member states on the United Nations Security Council in order to promote information-sharing and collaboration on the issues taken up by the Security Council. 

Abagail has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Dayton and master's degree in diplomacy and international relations from Seton Hall University.