Dr. Filiz Otucu Ruhm is a Professor of Political Science and Program Chair at Plymouth State University, where she specializes in International Relations, the Middle Eastern Politics, and the United Nations. Dr. Otucu Ruhm received her Ph.D. (2004) from the Department of Political Science at the University of Kentucky, her M.A. (1995) from University of Central Oklahoma and her B.A. (1992) in International Relations from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey.  She co-chairs PSU Peace and Social Justice Studies Council and the Sidore Lecture Series Committee. She has led student delegations to different parts of the world in over twenty countries. Dr. Otucu Ruhm advises PSU Model UN student organization, and with her students, every Spring, hosts a High School Model UN Conference at PSU Campus. Her recent research focuses on natural disasters, healthcare policies, climate change/adaptation, gender inequality and role of women.

Fiona McEnany is a microbiology and immunology PhD candidate at Dartmouth College and the Co-Chair of the Dartmouth Science, Technology, and Engineering Policy Society. She graduated from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in 2019 with a Master of Public Health and from Plymouth State University with a B.S. in biology and a B.A. in political science in 2018. ​Fiona is a former political science teaching lecturer at Plymouth State University, has interned at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in global health policy, was one of 60 students selected nationally to present scientific research to Congress in 2018, and was named to the New Hampshire Union Leader’s 2021 40 Under Forty class and as Stay Work Play New Hampshire’s 2021 Young Person of the Year.

​

​

Dr. Hemşin Adigüzel holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, a Master’s in the same field, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in Sociology, Pedagogy, and Social Work (Turkey and Germany). A merit scholar, he has worked extensively in child and family services, including with SOS Children’s Village in Germany and various NGOs in Turkey, such as Amnesty International. Dr. Adigüzel specializes in trauma, child, and family therapy, delivering resilience programs for healthcare professionals and training psychotherapists working with children and adolescents. His expertise spans EMDR, Narrative Trauma Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy, and expressive therapies (art, play, dance). An active academic and counselor in Germany, he also consults internationally on caregiver and infant mental health, early childhood development, and family education. His insights appear in national media, and he continues to publish and teach in psychology and health sciences across Turkey and Germany.​

​

​A professor of Media Studies, Metasebia remains fascinated by how people consume and interpret messages. Her research has examined alternative media, African film, and global issues. Metasebia recently earned a JD and Certificate in Intellectual Property from the University of New Hampshire School of Law; she plans to use this education in the private sector. ​

​

Dr. Beril Bayrak Bulucu is a pediatrician with 20+ years of primary care experience and deep expertise in infant mental health. She is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor (MassAIMH) and serves as NBO training faculty at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bayrak Bulucu provides training, mentorship, and reflective supervision nationally and internationally. She completed medical school in Istanbul, pediatric residency in New York City, and post-graduate fellowship at UMass Medical School. Trained as a Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator and in NMT Level 1, she is currently advancing her expertise through the Child Trauma Academy’s Neurosequential Model and Video Intervention Therapy. An active presenter at global conferences, Dr. Bayrak Bulucu co-facilitates AAP Early Childhood Council groups and is affiliated with Boston Children’s Brazelton Institute, New Beginnings NGO, MassAIMH, UMass Boston, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Jale Akyurtlu is Professor Emerita of Engineering at Hampton University, where she retired in 2015 after a distinguished career as an endowed University Professor. She earned her BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey) and her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was the department’s first female Ph.D. recipient. Her research spanned chemical reaction engineering, catalysis, and environmental applications, with projects funded by NASA, the Army Research Office, and NSF. She published 18 refereed papers, presented at 60+ conferences, and led NSF initiatives to integrate nanotechnology into curricula and enhance problem-solving in secondary education. Honors include HU’s Distinguished Teaching Award (2006) and Provost’s Academic Excellence Award (2013).

Since retiring to Boston, she has continued research, co-supervised graduate work, and serves on two philanthropic boards. She also leads a knitting group whose proceeds support girls’ education and women’s causes.

​

Nuray Ganioğlu, Designer, has resided in the US for the past 10 years, having previously lived in various European countries for a total of 15 years. She holds an educational background in art and design, having earned her degree in Textile design from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Turkey. Following her graduation, she worked as a designer in the textile and jewelry industry in Turkey for years. During her time in Russia and Poland, she cultivated her artistic talents across various mediums, including painting, photography, graphic design, jewelry design and crafting. At present, Nuray operates her own small jewelry business from her home studio. 

In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she is an activist and a human rights defender, dedicating the past decade to her work with the NPO organization, Bostonbul, which is committed to advocating for and raising awareness about human rights issues in Turkey, was founded during the "Occupy Gezi" movement in Turkey. Through her involvement with Bostonbul, she has gained expertise in graphic design and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. Nuray also serves as a board member of this organization. 

​