Place of Birth: Varna, Bulgaria
Citizenship: European & Turkish
Professional Summary
Dedicated educational trainer, advisor, and researcher with extensive experience in teacher professionalization, instructional design, assessment, and higher education training. Passionate about empowering educators through evidence-based methodologies and innovative teaching practices. Background in educational psychology, curriculum development, and expressive arts with a strong international experience in teacher training, professional coaching, and university-level instruction.
Key Competencies & Skills
• Teacher Training & Professional Development
• Instructional Design & Curriculum Development
• Higher Education Assessment & Feedback Strategies
• Intercultural Communication & Inclusion in Education
• Coaching & Supervision in Professionalization Trajectories
• Active Learning & Innovative Teaching Practices
• Psychodrama & Expressive Arts in Education
Education
PhD Candidate in Expressive Arts & Conflict Management (Ongoing)
European Graduate School, Switzerland
•Research focus: Conflict management, group dynamics, and creative pedagogical methodologies in education.
Master’s Degree in Language Education & Counseling & Guidance (2013)
Marmara University, Turkey
•Thesis: “Self-Efficacy in Language Teaching and Learning”
•Specialized in teacher self-efficacy, pedagogical coaching, and educational psychology.
Double Major: BA in Psychological Counseling & BA in English Language Teaching (2010)
Istanbul University, Turkey
•Focus on teacher training, cognitive development, and learning processes.
Professional ExperienceEducational Trainer & Psychological Counselor & English Instructor (2006 – Present)
Istanbul Technical University (ITU), School of Foreign Languages
•Designed and conducted teacher training programs on assessment, instructional design, and active learning strategies.
•Provided coaching and mentorship for faculty members in professional development trajectories.
•Developed curricula and assessment strategies for professional training courses.
•Led teacher workshops on supervision, evaluation, and innovative pedagogical methodologies.
Instructor & Trainer – Expressive Arts in Education (2022 – Present)
MEF University, Psychological Counseling Department
•Delivered teacher professionalization courses integrating expressive arts methodologies into learning and teaching.
•Trained future educators on the use of psychological and creative methods in teacher-student interactions.
Fulbright Scholar & Language Assistant (2010 – 2011)
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
•Taught Turkish as a foreign language and supported international students in their language learning process.
•Developed and implemented interactive teaching methodologies to engage students in language acquisition.
•Conducted educational research on language learning barriers in diverse classrooms.
•Collaborated with faculty on cross-cultural education projects and teacher training initiatives.
Educational Consultant & Trainer – International Projects (2010 – Present)
•Erasmus+ Teacher Training & Inclusion Through Art (Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, Bulgaria, France, Romania)
•Developed and led teacher training programs on inclusive education, intercultural learning, and assessment in higher education.
•Conducted coaching and professional development workshops for teachers in multilingual, international settings.
Psychodramatist & Group Facilitator (2018 – Present)
•Conducts teacher coaching sessions using psychodrama and action methods to enhance teaching effectiveness.
•Designs and facilitates group processes for teacher professionalization and continuous learning.
Workshops She Provided
2025
• February – Sardinia, Italy
• “Expressive Arts and Inclusion in Special Education”
• “Creative Methodologies for Engaging Special Needs Students”
• January – Utrecht, Netherlands
• Workshop Series for Expat Parents in the Netherlands: Immigration, Adaptation, and Parenting Roles Through Art Therapy & Psychodrama2024
• December – Athens, Greece
• Psychodrama Diploma Completion Workshop
• “Exploring Identity and Personal Narratives Through Psychodrama”
• November – Utrecht, Netherlands
• Erasmus+ Project Workshops on Teaching Empathy and Inclusion Through Psychodrama and Art Therapy
• November – Oristano, Italy
• “Inclusion Through Art: Expressive Arts for Special Education Teachers”
• October – Istanbul, Turkey
• “Expressive Arts for Well-being in Schools”
• “Special Education Teacher Training: Using Expressive Arts with Children with Special Needs”
• September – Athens, Greece
• “Creative Movement and Psychodrama Techniques in Therapy”
• “Art as a Therapeutic Tool: Transforming Trauma into Expression”
• July – Athens, Greece
• “Group Dynamics Through Psychodrama and Expressive Arts”
• “The Power of Role Reversal in Psychodrama”
• “Creative Methods in Therapy: Integrating Art and Drama”
• April – Istanbul, Turkey
• “Conflict Management in Schools Through Expressive Arts 2023
• October – Athens, Greece
• “Healing Through Creativity: The Intersection of Art Therapy and Psychodrama”
• “Exploring the Self: A Psychodramatic Approach to Personal Growth”
• July – Athens, Greece
• “Art as a Reflective Practice in Therapy”
• “Psychodrama for Emotional Expression and Healing”
• May – Istanbul, Turkey
• “Integrating Expressive Arts into Conflict Resolution Strategies”2022
• May – North Macedonia, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Turkey
• Erasmus+ Project ‘Citizen Me!’ – Workshop: “Women Identity and Women Entrepreneurship”
• April – Riga, Latvia
• Erasmus+ Project ‘Power of Peace’ – Workshop: “Women Identity and Women Entrepreneurship”
• April – Yıldız Technical University & METU, Turkey
• AESOP YA Conference – Workshop: “Being at the Threshold: Expressive Arts Experience”
• February – MEF University GPC Club, Turkey • Workshop: “The Power of Group Dynamics”
• January – MEF University MEFEDUCON Conference, Turkey
• Workshop: “Courage to Create: An Expressive Art Workshop”2021
• October – MEF University GPC Club, Turkey
• Workshop: “Psychodrama and Group Roles”2020
• December – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• Workshop: “How & Where to Start Learning English and What About My Anxieties?”
• Psychodrama Workshop: “Challenges & Opportunities in Virtual Classrooms”
• September – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• Psychodrama Workshop: “Me and My Roles as a Teacher”
• Workshop: “The Cornerstone of Learning Environment”
• June – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• Psychodrama Workshop: “A Psychodramatic Sharing Group: Not to the Endings But to the Beginnings”
• May – Istanbul Psychodrama Institute, Turkey
• Online Psychotherapeutic Support Groups for Counsellors in Cyprus (6 Weeks)
• May – Pedagogy Academy, Turkey
• Online Support & Sharing Groups for Mothers (6 Weeks)
• April – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• Executive Academies – Psychodrama Workshop: “Group Dynamics: Dealing with Resistance and Prejudices”
• Executive Academies – Psychodrama Workshop: “Building Strong Teams with Action Methods”2019
• December – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Workshop: “Grammaring: Grammar as a Skill and Dynamic Process”
• Workshop: “Creating Bonds Through Plays in the Classroom”
• November – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• “Schools are Stronger with Their Teachers” Project – Workshop: “The Power of Empathy in School Climate”
• November – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Hidden Dynamics in Language Teaching Conference – Workshop: “Mindful Practices in Language Classes”
• Workshop: “Integrating Art into Language Teaching”
• October – Bahçeşehir Schools, Turkey
• Entrepreneurship in Education Conference – Workshop: “Group Cohesion and Action Methods”
Conferences She Organized
• 2019, November – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Coordinator of Professional Development Unit: “Hidden Dynamics in Foreign Language Education Conference”
• 2019, December – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Coordinator of Professional Development Unit: “BEE TALKS Conference”
Certifications & Professional Development
• Diploma in Psychodrama, Psychomath Encounters (Athens, 2025)
• Expressive Arts Therapy Certification, European Graduate School (2022) • EMDR Therapy (2025)
Languages
• English (C2 – Full Professional Proficiency)
• Dutch (Beginner, willing to take language courses)
• Turkish (Native)
• German (Intermediate)
Pedagogy Academy, Turkey
• Online Support & Sharing Groups for Mothers (6 Weeks)
• April – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• Executive Academies – Psychodrama Workshop: “Group Dynamics: Dealing with Resistance and Prejudices”
• Executive Academies – Psychodrama Workshop: “Building Strong Teams with Action Methods”2019
• December – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Workshop: “Grammaring: Grammar as a Skill and Dynamic Process”
• Workshop: “Creating Bonds Through Plays in the Classroom”
• November – Beşiktaş Ministry of Education, Turkey
• “Schools are Stronger with Their Teachers” Project – Workshop: “The Power of Empathy in School Climate”
• November – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Hidden Dynamics in Language Teaching Conference – Workshop: “Mindful Practices in Language Classes”
• Workshop: “Integrating Art into Language Teaching”
• October – Bahçeşehir Schools, Turkey
• Entrepreneurship in Education Conference – Workshop: “Group Cohesion and Action Methods”
Conferences She Organized
• 2019, November – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Coordinator of Professional Development Unit: “Hidden Dynamics in Foreign Language Education Conference”
• 2019, December – Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
• Coordinator of Professional Development Unit: “BEE TALKS Conference”
Certifications & Professional Development
• Diploma in Psychodrama, Psychomath Encounters (Athens, 2025)
• Expressive Arts Therapy Certification, European Graduate School (2022) • EMDR Therapy (2025)
Languages
• English (C2 – Full Professional Proficiency)
• Dutch (Beginner, willing to take language courses)
• Turkish (Native)
• German (Intermediate)
