Nyamal Gatluak
[ Writer | CHANGEMAKER | global advocate ]
Nyamal Gatluak is a writer, advocate and co-founder of BalangNyal Foundation, a nonprofit working to help women and girls access personal care products.
Growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Nyamal was heavily involved in her community, volunteering at local organizations, schools and churches. She also was involved in the media space, with her own small photography business and involvement in film and yearbook at her high school.
Her passion for creativity and helping others drove her to pursue higher education and learn about ways to increase her impact.
Nyamal holds a bachelor of science in entrepreneurship and journalism & mass communication from Iowa State University. Here are a few things she accomplished during her time there:
🔎 Worked for two years as an undergraduate research assistant analyzing various factors affecting the success of Indigenous entrepreneurs through crowdfunding campaigns.
📰 Reported on 30+ stories for the Iowa State Daily about topics surrounding arts & entertainment, diversity, sustainability and equity.
✈️ Studied abroad at Korea University during the fall 2021 semester and served as a global ambassador for study abroad programs on her campus to encourage underrepresented students to study abroad.
✨Served as Treasurer on the executive board of the Korean Language Club for a semester.
More recently, Nyamal took on the role of an Alumni Ambassador of the U.S. Department of State's Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. She hopes to help make educational travel opportunities accessible to underrepresented students in her community.
Nyamal is also working on building her nonprofit, BalangNyal Foundation, which aims to uplift and support women by providing them with personal care essentials. Through her efforts, she aims to encourage women and girls to recognize their potential and the vast range of opportunities available to them.
She currently works as a Regional Director (CA/NV/HI) at WorldStrides working to build and create relationships with their university partners and champion students on their study abroad journeys.