Meet Zuleyha Cite, a BTF Impact Scholarship recipient during the 2024-2025 academic year. A second-year M.A. student in Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Hailing from Istanbul, Zuleyha is a passionate graduate student with a strong academic background in political science.
Zuleyha is 24 years old, the youngest of a family of nine sisters from Siirt. Her parents have been extremely dedicated to the education of their daughters, despite the challenges they faced. Zuleyha earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Marmara University, Faculty of Political Science, in June 2024. Shortly after, in the Fall, she started her master’s studies at Seton Hall University with the critical scholarship she received from the BTF as part of the Impact Scholarship Program. At Seton Hall, she specializes in International Organizations. Her academic interests focus on international peace, security, and particularly the United Nations studies. She is on a mission to help maintain world peace, human security, and international cooperation. Currently, Zuleyha serves as a graduate assistant on the School of Diplomacy’s social media team.
The Bridge to Türkiye Fund envisions a future where new generations in Türkiye thrive with opportunity and resources, supported by the collective generosity of the global community. Impact scholarship means a bridge between Zuleyha’s dream of education in diplomacy and her future goals. ‘’ The Impact Scholarship made an education that was impossible for me become possible.’’ Says Zuleyha. ‘’This Scholarship did not just ease the financial challenges, it gave me the confidence to pursue a career in diplomacy and to make a meaningful impact, just like BTF’s vision to transform goodwill into sustainable and impactful programs that improve lives.’’
Zuleyha is active in leadership initiatives on campus and strives to make a difference. She says that her time at Seton Hall so far has helped shape her path toward diplomacy. During her graduate assistantship position, several of her articles were published on the university’s website, showcasing her strong writing an analytical skills. She also serves as social media editor for both the Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations and the United Nations Association of Seton Hall.
Zuleyha explains that these experiences provided her with “a deeper understanding of how scholars, academics, and professionals tackle international conflicts. Contributing to the school’s digital presence, producing content, and engaging with collaborative publications, conferences was also a great networking opportunity.’’
Outside of the classroom, Zuleyha is interning at the United Nations Council of Presidents of the General Assembly (UNCPGA). Which is affiliated with the duty station based in New York. A dream come true for Zuleyha, she was accepted into the UNCPGA’s Graduate Internship Program, working with high-level diplomatic officials. Zuleyha’s commitment to success is driven by her strong interest in United Nations studies and her deep desire to serve the international community. Zuleyha’s responsibilities include preparing briefing materials and analytical documents, as well as conducting project-specific tasks for managers and senior officials. She also performs a complete overhaul of the website administration and digital presence of the UNCPGA.
One of the highlights of her experience is that Zuleyha recently assisted in preparing for the annual meeting of the UNCPGA during the high-level political week, on September in New York. The meeting was attended by several Presidents of the UNGA. It adopted the “UN80 Declaration,” calling for UN reform efforts to focus on how the Organization can better address the complex peace and security challenges of the 21st century more systematically and effectively. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, ‘’Working directly with high-level officials, observing how to draft and adopt a declaration, and closely following this process was a unique hands-on experience. On that day, I had the honor of meeting several distinguished UNGA presidents; it was a memorable moment for me. Being part of a high-level diplomatic working environment serves as a ital step toward my future career.’’
“If I had not come to the United States,” Zuleyha continued, “I would not have been able to intern at the United Nations. The coursework at Seton Hall prepared me for this internship. It provided a background in the UN, the structure of international organizations, along with experimental learning and field opportunities. Seton Hall University’s renowned education, their ranking as 30th in the world for diplomacy and foreign policy education, stands out as the ideal bridge between my past accomplishments and future goals. I owe these opportunities to the critical support and scholarship I received from the BTF Impact Scholarship.’’
Zuleyha’s journey exemplifies the key qualities that define a successful student and highlights the value of leveraging the opportunities offered at the Bridge to Türkiye Fund to the fullest. Her dedication reflects the high standards set by the Bridge to Türkiye Community and underscores the importance of proactive, passionate, and driven individuals in shaping the future of Türkiye.