CCR Board of Advisors

Founding President of Düzce University 2007-2015
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University

Prof. Dr. Funda Sivrikaya Serifoğlu is a leader in higher education management and in women leadership. She is the founding president of Düzce University, Turkey, and is currently serving as the dean at Istanbul Bilgi University. Düzce University has developed very fast with both infrastructural and institutional projects she led, to be ranked among the most innovative and entrepreneurial universities of Turkey. The university is proud of the capability and eagerness to use the scientific knowledge and academic experience in project partnerships with stakeholders with the aim to support the sustainable development of the region and contribute to the welfare of the people living therein. Düzce University has been awarded the European Entrepreneurship Award in May 2011 with one such project. Various pioneering projects and programs are conducted including, but not limited to, woman leadership, accountability, materials science, endangered languages, social security, health, disadvantaged people, and so on. Prof. Dr. Funda Sivrikaya Serifoğlu received her B.S. (valedictorian) and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Boğaziçi University, Turkey; and her M.S. degree in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University, USA. She has publications in international and national scientific journals, and has been also serving as editor and reviewer. Prof. Dr. Sivrikaya Serifoğlu served as the project coordinator of a pioneering strategic planning project in Turkey at the province level in Düzce. She was invited by the European Parliament and the European Commission within the European Union Visitors Program (EUVP) in 2008. She was also invited to take part in the State Visitor Leadership Program of the American Government in 2010. Prof. Dr. Funda Sivrikaya Serifoğlu is married and has a daughter and a son, of ages 24 and 18 respectively.