About Zeynep

Zeynep Ertugay was born on April 9th, 1997 in Philadelphia to first generation Turkish immigrants. She grew up primarily in the Seattle area, living in Ankara for a short time as a child and moving to Boston to get her masters in Education. Since then she has worked as a teacher, on curriculum development, and is currently looking for a job as a highschool teacher. Zeynep is an individual with deep ties to her community, both Turkish and not. She engages actively with TACAWA, teaching and promoting Turkish folklore dance, a tradition she grew up with as well. There is an undeniable intersection between community and education that she promotes vigorously, discussing the importance of TACAWA as an educating force. She maintains a strong connection to her family in Turkey and hopes to regularly visit Turkey in the future. She is also a Zumba certified instructor, avid reader, and enjoyer of Turkish cuisine. Beyond her immediate community, Zeynep envisions future projects in Turkey, particularly focusing on collaborative efforts to empower girls and women through education and the arts.