Cigdem is the director of the Office of Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR). Since her arrival on campus, she has prioritized the needs and academic outcomes of parenting students. A passionate and creative visionary, Cigdem has transformed accessibility to high-quality child care for UW families by increasing the network of providers who serve and give preference to their children. Her many accomplishments include securing major federal grants (Child Care Access Means Parents in School) and Evjue Foundation funding to ensure student-parent success and to implement impactful mentorship programs for early educators. Cigdem’s inclusive approach to leadership inspires collaboration and drives positive change in the campus early education community and beyond.