Apuk Ayuel Mayen is a poet, writer, and diplomat, and the author of two poetry collections, No More Betrayals and Kindred.

Born and based in Juba, South Sudan, and raised between Khartoum, Cairo, and Austin, Texas, her writing reflects on a country and a people navigating the long transition from war to peace, and on the intimate spaces between living and loving.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her professional experience spans public service, diplomacy, mediation processes, and women, peace, and security.

Her areas of interest include peace-building, nation-building, access to education, and the role of culture and literature in public life. Since 2016, she has been the founder of Mankhoc Charities, an organization supporting access to primary and secondary education for disadvantaged children in South Sudan.