Since 2015, Cigdem Unal has served as the Director of the UW-Madison Office of Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR), bringing over two decades of dedicated experience in supporting parenting students, families, their children, and early childhood education programs and educators within higher education institutions. Holding both a B.A. and M.A. in Education, she has made significant contributions to the field as an NAEYC Assessor, trainer, writer, consultant, presenter, and instructor.
A passionate and creative visionary, Cigdem has revolutionized access to high-quality child care for UW families. Under her leadership, UW-Madison’s child care system has experienced remarkable growth. Originally consisting of three campus child care centers and accredited family child care providers, the system has expanded into the UW-Madison Child Care & Education Network, now comprising six licensed and accredited centers. These centers prioritize enrollment for hundreds of UW families while addressing the growing demand for accessible, high-quality child care.
Cigdem’s efforts go beyond meeting child care needs; she has strategically expanded programs that also serve as invaluable experiential learning opportunities for UW students. These initiatives provide future Pre-K educators with hands-on teaching experiences in early childhood settings, equipping them with the practical skills and knowledge essential for successful careers.
These centers play a crucial role in providing essential child care services to the university community while serving as vital training grounds for the next generation of educators. Their diverse early learning environments also contribute significantly to the university’s research mission. Through collaboration with faculty members, they further support UW-Madison’s teaching and research initiatives. Under Cigdem’s leadership, these innovative efforts create a lasting impact on the university, its students, its research endeavors, and the broader field of early childhood education.
Cigdem began her professional journey at UW-Madison as a teacher at Eagle’s Wing and has since held prominent leadership roles, including serving as the Director of Children’s Centers at UW-Whitewater and Madison College Child and Family Centers. Her strategic leadership has been pivotal in securing funding and enriching programs like the UW-Madison Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP), providing vital support that empowers parenting students to persist in their studies and achieve graduation.
Some of her scholarly contributions include articles like “As Directors, How Do We Create Engaging, Inspiring, and Productive Early Childhood Work Environments?” and “Leadership Development for a Changing Early Childhood Landscape,” which highlight her expertise in leadership and early childhood education. Recognized as an Exchange Leader, Cigdem has earned numerous accolades, some of them are the NAEYC Legacy Leader Fellowship (2014), the Rainbow Project Extra Mile Award (2018), the Madison College TRIO Program Recognition Award, and the Madison College Outstanding Employee Awards.
Cigdem is also a certified trainer with the National Louis University McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership and has completed the Taking Charge of Change Train the Trainer program. Her passion for inclusive leadership in education fuels her ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for children, families, and early childhood educators.
Through her collaborative and visionary approach, Cigdem fosters meaningful partnerships that inspire innovation and drive positive change, leaving a profound and lasting impact on the campus early education community and beyond.
Outside of her professional life, Cigdem and her family enjoy traveling the world, exploring diverse cultures and cuisines, cooking, and reading. These personal passions fuel her creativity and broaden her perspective, enriching both her professional and personal contributions.