Selam is originally from Asmara, Eritrea but has been living in Maryland since 2004. She received a B.A. in Global Studies with a minor in Africana Studies and a certificate in Spanish from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In undergrad, she was able to study abroad in San Ramón, Costa Rica studying global health and environmental science. After graduation, she worked in non-profit direct mail fundraising in Washington, DC, with a client portfolio that included Heifer International and Doctors Without Borders. With her MDP degree, she hopes to be based in East Africa, working with refugees and displaced communities.