The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), an advocacy group for those affected by problem gambling and gambling addiction, has named Semhar Abed to the new position of program manager and Grace Maliska as communications manager.
“NCPG is delighted to have Semhar on our team,” said NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte. “She is a go-getter who has experience with nonprofits and associations with missions similar to ours in education and health. I am excited that we will be working with her on new programs and to make our current programs thrive under her leadership.”
Abed joined the NCPG in 2019. As program manager, she is responsible for operations, oversight, planning and reporting on NCPG problem gambling and responsible gambling programs, including the Lottery Responsible Gambling Verification Program and the Internet Compliance Assessment Program. Abed brings eight years of experience working with nonprofits in Washington, D.C.
Prior to NCPG, Abed was the assessment specialist and board services associate at the Association for Community College Trustees. She also worked as Membership Coordinator and Program Coordinator for the International Association for the Study of Pain. As an AmeriCorps member, she worked for ChildThrive!, assisting families in low-income housing. Her volunteer work includes board service for the Eritrean Development Foundation and tutoring Eritrean students for another nonprofit.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work for an organization with an amazing mission and fantastic staff who are passionate about this hidden addiction,” said Abed.
Maliska joined NCPG in June and is working to implement the organization’s external communications, including public awareness and outreach efforts.
“NCPG is thrilled to have Grace on board. She has many skills and much expertise to bring to us, and we look forward to accelerating our growth and public awareness impact with her contributions,” said Whyte.
Prior to joining NCPG, Maliska served as a technology fellow at Georgetown’s Center for New Design Learning and Scholarship, as well as the communications specialist at the National Women’s Political Caucus. She has also worked as a digital producer for media technology companies doing applications and websites, and the online learning specialist at the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
“I am eager to apply my skills in communications to the increasingly pertinent and important topic of problem gambling as a means to accelerate public awareness and engagement,” said Maliska.
