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Leadership
LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

Meet the team behind the happiness!

Övgü Uluçay Durnan

Operations Director

sule-kivanc-ancieata-photo

Şule Kıvanç Ancieta​

Development Director

Gözde Arasıl İmage

Gözde Arasıl

Program Services & Impact Manager

ÖZGUN

Özgün Türköz​

Program Development Manager​

Ayssa Fyfe

Marketing Coordinator

SİBEL SEL

Sibel Sel Ömrüuzun

Donor Database Coordinator

EBRU

Ebru Tüzel Çalışkan​

IT Director​

Aziz sancar image

Dr. Aziz Sancar

Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Emin Pamucak image

Emin Pamucak

Founding President of BTF​

JORDAN

Jordan Scepanski

Prior Board Member

Ela Eskinazi

Ela Eskinazi

Chairperson​

Bülent Ender-image

Bülent Ender​

President​

Gonca Soysal-image

Gonca Soysal

Vice President

Deniz Ertaş

Deniz Ertaş​

Secretary​

Pelin Muharremoglu-image

Pelin Muharremoğlu

Treasurer

Sevda Aleckson

Sevdâ Küpoğlu Aleckson

Director

Yasemin İpek Blanton

Yasemin İpek Blanton

Director

Executive Committee

Bülent Ender
Gonca Soysal
Pelin Muharremoğlu
Deniz Ertaş

Nomination & Governance Committee

Ela Eskinazi
Gonca Soysal
Deniz Ertaş
Bülent Ender
Pelin Muharremoğlu
Sevdâ Küpoğlu Aleckson

Outbound Program Committee​

Gonca Soysal
Pelin Muharremoğlu
Sevdâ Küpoğlu Aleckson

Community Engagement Committee

Bülent Ender
Gonca Soysal
Serdar Dinçaslan
Yasemin İpek Blanton
Kerim Tumay

Finance & Auidit Committee​

Bülent Ender
Mehmet Esen
Levent Demirekler
Pelin Muharremoğlu

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Bridging to Brighter Futures!

Let's build bridges of kindness with Türkiye! Join us and help change lives for children and youth in Turkiye.

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Şule Kıvanç Ancieta​

Development Director

Şule Kıvanç-Ancieta brings more than two decades of experience in education and community engagement to her role as Development Director at Bridge to Türkiye Fund. She holds a B.S. in Physics from Middle East Technical University (METU) and has taught in both public and private schools across the United States and Türkiye.

Şule has been part of the BTF community since 2014, when she founded the Chicago Giving Circle. In her current role, she leads the organization’s Community Engagement Committee, helping connect grassroots supporters to BTF’s mission of advancing opportunity and equity in Türkiye.

She is also the founder of Cinema4aCause, an awareness and fundraising initiative that uses documentary and narrative film to spotlight issues of gender and educational inequality in rural Türkiye. Her leadership in the Turkish-American nonprofit space has been featured in U.S. and Turkish media.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Şule co-founded the Science Olympiad Club at Brooks Middle School in Illinois, where she has earned recognition for her hands-on, student-centered approach to science and math education. She lives in the Greater Chicago Area with her husband, Victor, and their son, Lucas.

Gözde Arasıl İmage

Gözde Arasıl

Program Services & Impact Manager

Gözde Arasıl joined the Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF) in April 2025. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from İstanbul Kültür University and a Master’s in European Studies from Malmö University in Sweden. 

Before joining BTF, she worked in various project development and management roles across civil society organizations, where she contributed to initiatives promoting social impact, equality, and community empowerment.

ÖZGUN

Özgün Türköz​

Program Development Manager​

Özgün Türköz joined Bridge to Türkiye Fund in July 2023 as Programs Coordinator after previously serving as a Project Assistant. He is a 2023 graduate of Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara.

Prior to joining BTF, he completed an internship with Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services, gaining experience in public service and social policy. Outside of work, Özgün enjoys playing the violin and ukulele.

SİBEL SEL

Sibel Sel Ömrüuzun

Donor Database Coordinator

Sibel Sel Ömrüuzun serves as Donor Database & Administrative Support Services at Bridge to Türkiye Fund, bringing 15+ years of administrative and operational experience across diplomatic, academic, and private-sector environments. She previously supported international delegations and high-level events at the Finnish and Indian Embassies in Ankara, managing office coordination, travel logistics, protocol, and budget processes. She also spent several years at Middle East Technical University (METU), providing administrative and program support for graduate studies and academic leadership.

More recently, Sibel has worked remotely with a U.S.-based company, overseeing CRM operations, client communications, scheduling, and data management. With academic training in Economics and Medical Informatics, she brings strong analytical thinking and digital expertise to her work. She also volunteers as a Salesforce mentor with Supermums, supporting mothers as they build technical skills and professional confidence.

Sibel is currently based in Tampere, Finland, where she lives with her family.

EBRU

Ebru Tüzel Çalışkan​

IT Director​

Ebru Çalışkan joined Bridge to Türkiye Fund in January 2022 as IT and Innovation Director, bringing with her a diverse background in engineering, and project management. She holds a B.S. in Mining Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU) and has been involved in a range of technical projects before focusing her expertise on information technology and innovation.

Ebru applies her analytical and technical skills to design creative, efficient IT solutions that support BTF’s operations and growth. 

Beyond her professional work, Ebru has been an active volunteer mentor and coach for university students in Türkiye. As Program Coordinator for the METU Istanbul Alumni Association (ODTÜMİST) career mentoring program, she provides guidance on career planning, skill-building, and job market navigation, reflecting her commitment to supporting the next generation of professionals.

Aziz sancar image

Dr. Aziz Sancar

Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Aziz Sancar MD PhD, is the Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He was born in Savur-Mardin, Türkiye, in 1946, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He received his medical degree in 1969 from the Istanbul University School of Medicine. After practicing medicine in Savur for two years, he attended the University of Texas at Dallas where he obtained a PhD in Molecular Biology in 1977 for his work on DNA repair. Dr. Sancar conducted postdoctoral work at Yale University on the molecular biology of DNA repair from 1977 to 1982. In 1982, he joined the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UNC-Chapel Hill where he continued his research in DNA Repair, Cell Cycle and cancer treatment, and the Biological Clock.

He has published 288 research articles and 33 book chapters. Dr. Sancar is a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences, a Member of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences, and the recipient of the Vehbi Koç Award from the Koç Foundation of Türkiye in 2007, and a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015. Dr. Sancar is also the President of the Aziz & Gwen Sancar Foundation, which sponsors the Sancar Turkish Cultural and Community Center. Dr. Sancar lives in Chapel Hill with his wife Gwen.

Emin Pamucak image

Emin Pamucak

Founding President of BTF​

Emin Pamucak, born in 1959 in Kütahya, Türkiye, to families of Ottoman Turkish descent from Bulgaria and Greece, has led a life dedicated to community service and leadership. After completing his elementary education in Türkiye, Emin moved to the suburbs of metropolitan Washington, D.C. for his secondary education. He holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in engineering from Boğaziçi University and the University of Maryland, respectively.

Emin’s professional journey spanned 35 years with leading roles at IBM and Lenovo across various U.S. states including Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, and North Carolina. Now retired, he resides in Cary, North Carolina with his wife Ayşe and focuses on his lifelong commitment to making a positive impact through civic engagement and community development.

An advocate for grassroots civic representation, Emin has held multiple leadership roles. He served as a three-term President of the American Turkish Association of North Carolina (ATA-NC), receiving the Association’s Distinguished Member and Leader Awards and leading it to be recognized as the Assembly of Turkish American Associations’ (ATAA) Component Association of the Year. His service also includes being ATAA Vice President for the Southeastern United States. Emin is a passionate gardener, and draws inspiration from nature to nurture his community building efforts. He is a founding member and long term former President of BTF, serving from 2003 to 2025. Under his leadership, BTF has evolved from a nascent, volunteer-led local nonprofit into a professionally governed and sustainable global organization.​ Emin continues to serve BTF as Goodwill Ambassador and Advisor to the Board.

Ela Eskinazi

Ela Eskinazi

Chairperson​

Ela Eskinazi is Head of Sustainable Finance & Clean Energy at Bank of the West and is responsible for the strategy and execution of sustainable finance activities and solutions across the bank, including commercial banking, retail banking, and wealth management. Prior to joining Bank of the West, Ela worked in multiple roles at Bank of America for 15 years, most recently as Head of Business Development ESG & Sustainable Finance in North America. Prior to banking, she worked at GE Healthcare in various commercial leadership roles. In addition, she is black-belt certified. Ela has an MSc. degree from Purdue University and BSc. from Middle East Technical University in Türkiye.

Ela serves as Chair of the Board for Bridge to Turkiye Fund (BTF), an education-focused non-profit organization serving underprivileged children and youth.

She has been a member of the BTF family since 2007 as a volunteer and fundraiser and later assumed increasing roles as Charlotte Circle leader, Director, and VP. She is a strong advocate of education as a way of liberating minds and societies, especially

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Bülent Ender​

President​

Bülent Ender, M.D. has been part of the Bridge to Türkiye Fund since its inception and was appointed President of the Board of Directors in July 2025. A longtime resident of North Carolina’s Triangle region, he is a founding member of BTF and continues to oversee the organization’s Endowment Fund, which was established through charitable contributions by the board.

Born in Türkiye and raised in the Washington D.C. area, Bülent pursued his education in Richmond, Baltimore, and Houston before settling in Raleigh in 1993. After more than 30 years in medical practice, he retired in 2021 to focus on family, health, learning, and community service.

Bülent remains an engaged member of the Turkish-American community and is committed to fostering sustainable impact through philanthropy. He lives in Raleigh with his wife, Deniz, and enjoys pickleball, cycling, swimming, and traveling.

Gonca Soysal-image

Gonca Soysal

Vice President

Born and raised in Türkiye, Dr. Gonca Soysal earned her B.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara in 1995, followed by an M.Eng. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1997. A strong advocate for equal access to high-quality education, Gonca attended some of the best public schools in Türkiye at the time, including Ankara Atatürk Anadolu Lisesi and Ankara Fen Lisesi.

Before returning to academia, Gonca worked in Istanbul for five years, first as a Systems Manager for Procter & Gamble, then moving on to become a Management Consultant and Service Line Manager for Ernst & Young. In 2002, she returned to the US to further her education, earning M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Marketing Analytics from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Following her graduation, Gonca worked as an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Arkansas. In addition to teaching various marketing courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive education levels to thousands of students, Gonca is an accomplished empirical researcher, with her work published in top academic journals and cited by numerous media outlets. Her research focuses on retailing, pricing, and e-commerce.

Gonca’s journey with BTF began in 2014 with a desire to give back to her homeland from afar and contribute to causes she deeply cares about. A quick Google search led her to BTF, where she immediately connected with the organization’s values and culture, and was inspired by the many selfless volunteers working hard to support Türkiye. Since then, she has served as the founder and leader of the BTF Dallas-Fort Worth Giving Circle, founder and director of the BTF METU (ODTU) Scholarships, and as a BTF Board Member.

In July 2023, Gonca was elected Vice President of BTF by the Board of Directors. She currently lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands with her husband Metehan and their two daughters.

Deniz Ertaş

Deniz Ertaş​

Secretary​

Deniz Ertaş, Ph.D. is a theoretical physicist with deep expertise spanning geophysics, materials science, granular and porous media, drilling mechanics, electrochemistry, and geothermal energy. Born and raised in İzmir, Türkiye, he moved to the U.S. in 1990 to pursue a Ph.D. in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Since then, he has spent over 25 years leading research and innovation in the energy sector, with a particular focus on technologies related to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas.

Deniz is the author of more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and is the inventor of two dozen patents. His commitment to philanthropy began with a memorial scholarship fund for his high school principal, and has since grown into a long-standing dedication to educational access in Türkiye. A BTF volunteer since 2018, Deniz has been instrumental in raising scholarship funds for students from his alma maters Bornova Anadolu Lisesi and İzmir Fen Lisesi.

As Secretary of BTF’s Board of Directors since July 2025, he continues to channel his passion for science and equity into meaningful impact. Most recently, he helped establish BAL America, a growing alumni network that supports education and opportunity for the next generation.

Pelin Muharremoglu-image

Pelin Muharremoğlu

Treasurer

Pelin Muharremoğlu brings a strong background in strategy, finance, and engineering to her role as Treasurer of the Board of Directors at Bridge to Türkiye Fund. She joined BTF’s staff in 2024 as Finance Director, where she oversaw critical financial operations and contributed to building robust systems to support the organization’s growing impact. In July 2025, she was appointed Treasurer of the Board.

Pelin’s involvement in the Turkish-American community spans many years, including her service as a board member of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington (TACAWA). Her connection with BTF began in 2016 when she organized a local fundraiser in support of student scholarships.

She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Boston University, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Boğaziçi University. Outside of her professional commitments, Pelin enjoys discovering new books and podcasts, staying curious across disciplines.

Sevda Aleckson

Sevdâ Küpoğlu Aleckson​

Director

Born in Istanbul, Türkiye, Sevda Kupogly Aleckson moved to the United States in 1975 to pursue a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With over 38 years of experience in quality assurance management and environmental engineering, she has lived in Nevada, Southern California, North Carolina, and now resides in Northern Virginia.

Sevda has been an active member of the Turkish-American community for more than two decades, serving on the boards of several organizations including ATASC, OCTAA, OCTS, ATA-NC Charlotte, and Bridge to Turkiye Fund (BTF). In 2010, she founded the Medine Memi Memorial Scholarships Program, later rebranded as BTF Empowerment Scholarships, expanding it from 6 to nearly 1,200 students in collaboration with CYDD branches.

A dedicated advocate for girls’ education and community engagement, Sevda Kupogly Aleckson continues to represent BTF and expand its support network in the DC Metro area. She has served on BTF’s Board of Directors for over a decade, and currently serves as a Board Member.

Yasemin İpek Blanton

Yasemin İpek Blanton

Director

Bülent Ender, M.D. has been part of the Bridge to Türkiye Fund since its inception and was appointed President of the Board of Directors in July 2025. A longtime resident of North Carolina’s Triangle region, he is a founding member of BTF and continues to oversee the organization’s Endowment Fund, which was established through charitable contributions by the board.

Born in Türkiye and raised in the Washington D.C. area, Bülent pursued his education in Richmond, Baltimore, and Houston before settling in Raleigh in 1993. After more than 30 years in medical practice, he retired in 2021 to focus on family, health, learning, and community service.

Bülent remains an engaged member of the Turkish-American community and is committed to fostering sustainable impact through philanthropy. He lives in Raleigh with his wife, Deniz, and enjoys pickleball, cycling, swimming, and traveling.

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Deniz Congar - image

Deniz Taşdemiroğlu Conger

Executive Director

Deniz Taşdemiroğlu Conger brings over 25 years of leadership experience in nonprofit management, philanthropy, and strategic growth to her role as Executive Director of Bridge to Türkiye. Throughout her career, she has led transformative initiatives in health, education, arts, and community development, successfully raising more than $80 million to advance equity-driven missions and strengthen organizational capacity

She has served in senior leadership positions across a wide range of organizations, guiding complex change management, national campaigns, and innovative fundraising models. Her expertise includes strategic planning, capital campaigns, board development, and advancing equity in philanthropy—skills she has applied to help organizations thrive through periods of growth and transition

In addition to her professional achievements, Deniz is deeply committed to community service. She serves on the Board of CFRE International and other nonprofit organizations while pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Affairs & Public Policy. Her collaborative, inclusive leadership style reflects her belief that community-led solutions create lasting impact—an approach that will guide Bridge to Türkiye into its next chapter.