Ursala is the legislative director for peacebuilding at FCNL. In this role, she advocates to Congress to establish peacebuilding as a central goal of U.S. foreign policy.
Ursala received her B.A. (Hons.) in Religions and Theology from the University of Manchester (U.K.), where her research focused on religion and conflict in South Asia. She worked with the Anchorage Interfaith Council, and the North American Interfaith Network.
She graduated with a M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University. During her time at American University, she worked at Women in International Security and served as a graduate consultant with the Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations.
Following graduation she worked with the Alliance for Peacebuilding. Ursala attended Ulster University’s INCORE Summer School on Social Innovation, Technology and Peacebuilding in 2015.
Ursala was the policy and advocacy coordinator for Saferworld’s Washington, D.C. office, where she advocated for U.S. foreign policy driven by the needs and interests of conflict-affected communities. She has facilitated advocacy strategy development workshops with Saferworld’s country teams and partners in Somalia, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan.
Ursala chaired the U.S. Civil Society Working Group for Women, Peace and Security for two terms, and chaired the advisory board of STAND: The Student-led Movement to End Mass Atrocities for two years. Ursala also served as coordinator of the SDG16 Data Initiative for three years. Ursala currently serves as co-chair of the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance and is on the advisory board of the Charity and Security Network.
Ursala is also a volunteer and troop leader with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital.
