U. lecturer designated as member of international female leadership cohort

Selin Bengi Gümrükçü, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, has recently been designated as part of the Institute of International Education's (IIE) Global Community for Women's Leadership's inaugural cohort, according to a press release. 

The IEE is a nonprofit that fosters international education. Its Global Community for Women's Leadership will provide professional development to a multinational community of established and emerging female leaders.

"I am honored to be designated as a member of the IIE Global Community for Women's Leadership inaugural cohort," Gümrükçü said. "This recognition means a great deal to me, not only as a woman but also as a political scientist deeply aware of the gender disparities in leadership."

The IIE launched the Global Community for Women's Leadership to bring women from various professional fields together to share their experiences and make changes that will further female leadership.

Gümrükçü said that she sees the role as an opportunity to expand her leadership skills and further contribute to the Rutgers community and beyond. Her goal is to create meaningful differences and help young women see themselves in leadership positions.

"Together, we can address systemic barriers and drive positive change, not only in our institutions but also in society and policy at large. This role provides an invaluable platform for both contributing my expertise and growing alongside a global network of dynamic women leaders," Gümrükçü said.

Gümrükçü said she grew up in a political family, which sparked her interest in politics. She said that her parents, who are retired teachers, were suppressed by Turkey's military junta after a coup in 1980.  

When she was growing up, Gümrükçü saw the extensive impact military regimes can have on democracy and said that due to her upbringing, studying politics was an obvious path.

"I occasionally share my personal story when relevant," she said. "It's deeply fulfilling to see how this inspires some students to pursue careers in civil society or law, working to defend democracy and advocate for refugee rights."

Gümrükçü was nominated to apply to the cohort. The application involved questions about her expectations of the program and how she would use the $2,500 stipend that is provided upon acceptance.

Gümrükçü said that she plans to enroll in the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Women in Higher Education Leadership program for the Spring 2025 semester using the stipend. She said this program will enable her to develop her leadership skills and apply them to higher education.

Moreover, she said that at Rutgers, she is working on improving the international scholars community by helping organize writing retreats and other community-building activities. Hopefully, these initiatives will create bonds among the scholars to help them navigate specific challenges.  

"As a Muslim woman, I also value the opportunity to challenge biases and help my students develop a more nuanced understanding of the Middle East," she said.

Gümrükçü said that the IIE provides various programs for students and scholars worldwide to assist people and institutions in utilizing global education in the modern world.

She said that immersive cultural experiences like living abroad help encourage an international perspective and personal development.

"What motivates me now, as an international and female faculty (member), is the desire to contribute to the institutional and systemic changes necessary to create more inclusive, equitable environments in higher education and the broader society," Gümrükçü said.