About Muazzez

Muazzez was born in the village of Bozköy before moving to İzmir with her family at a young age. After studying to be a special education teacher she traveled across Turkey as a translator for American professors in special education classes. She came to the U.S. in 1956 for graduate school at Indiana University and shortly after met her husband, whom she married the next year in Chicago. After having a child she came to Seattle and also lived in Washington D.C. and Boston briefly. While in Seattle she was the president of the Turkish American Community of Washington and helped Turkish immigrants new to Washington settle into a new life. She visited Turkey regularly until 2008, but keeps in touch with her siblings and prides herself in making authentic Turkish food for both her family and friends. She is actively involved in politics and believes in taking advantage of the opportunities given to her in the U.S.