Dr. Abeln received his B.A. in History from The University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He received both a Ph.D. in Management and M.Phil. in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Rotary Foundation Scholar. His doctorate work on international labour economics was under the supervision of Professor W.A. Brown, Chairman of the Cambridge University Economics Department.

He has an extensive international academic background having served as President, Dean and Associate Dean including leading institutions in USA, UK, Australia and Asia, as well as serving as a member of faculty. He has developed new academic programs and curriculum for undergraduate, postgraduate masters and doctoral programs, while also promoting liberal arts, STEM and business education and interdisciplinary learning. Dr. Abeln was instrumental in negotiating 300+ partnership agreements between university and industry, government and other academic institutions to promote collaboration.