Rumeysa Ozturk
| State | Massachusetts |
| University | Tufts University |
| College | Teachers College (TC) |
| Organizations | BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) |
In March 2024, Rumeysa Ozturk took a bold stand against Israel. This came after the tragic events of October 7, 2023; specifically, when Hamas launched deadly attacks on Israeli civilians.
The morning of October 7, 2023, marked a day of unimaginable violence as Hamas unleashed a wave of terror across Israeli communities. Nearly 1,200 innocent lives were lost, thousands were left wounded, and hundreds were taken captive. The tragedy only grew darker with horrifying accounts of mass rape, torture, and other brutal crimes.
Rumeysa Ozturk actively backs the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, advocating for its cause in efforts to challenge certain policies.
Starting in January 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk embraced the role of course instructor for ‘Intro to Children’s Media – 04’ and ‘Youth and Media – 06’ at Tufts University. As a result, she offered valuable insights and, in turn, shaped the future of aspiring media professionals.
Her contributions significantly impacted the curriculum, thereby enhancing the educational experience for her students. Furthermore, her passion for the subject matter inspired many, fostering a creative and engaging learning environment.
Beginning in February and April 2025, these courses are designed for high school students advancing to grades 10, 11, or 12. The course descriptions clearly state that students must submit an additional application after enrolling. Tufts University, which will host these courses, is located in the vibrant cities of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts.
By January 2025, Ozturk’s LinkedIn profile showcased her role as a graduate research assistant at Tufts, a position she began in August 2023. Furthermore, she gained valuable experience as a course instructor at Tufts during the summer of 2024, specifically in July and August. As a result, this experience contributed significantly to her professional development.
Academic Journey
Around that time, Ozturk’s LinkedIn profile revealed that she was actively pursuing a doctorate in child study and human development at Tufts University, with her graduation set for 2026.
In 2020, Ozturk completed her master’s degree in developmental and child psychology from Teachers College at Columbia University. TC, based in New York, played a big role in shaping the start of her career.
By February 2025, Ozturk’s LinkedIn showed that she was living in the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts.
Opposition to Israel
In an op-ed published on March 26, 2024, Ozturk and her colleagues voiced concerns in Tufts Daily. The piece was titled, ‘Try Again, President Kumar: Renewing Calls for Tufts to Adopt March 4 TCU Senate Resolutions.’
The authors emphasized the need for President Kumar and the Tufts administration to move past discussions. Take meaningful action in implementing the Senate’s resolutions.
The piece highlighted the anti-Israel resolutions passed by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, which urged the University to make key changes.
The resolutions called for an acknowledgment of the Palestinian genocide, an apology for remarks made by President Sunil Kumar, transparency around its investments, and divestment from companies with any connection to Israel.
Tufts University President Kumar issued a message on March 4, 2024, titled ‘Message on TCU Senate Resolutions.’ He addressed the entire Tufts community—students, faculty, and staff.
In his statement, he informed the community that the Tufts Community Union Senate had adopted three resolutions.The Coalition for Palestinian Liberation originally proposed these resolutions.
In his message, President Kumar expressed his disappointment. He stated, ‘…we regret that the majority of the Senate chose to pass three out of the four resolutions.’
We have always strongly opposed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Furthermore, we remain committed to upholding academic freedom and supporting all our academic and exchange programs.
In addition, we will continue to collaborate with the companies we currently partner with and do business wit. Moreover, we recognize the importance of fostering partnerships that promote mutual understanding and respect.
Therefore, we will actively seek new opportunities to engage with diverse communities and, in turn, enhance our initiatives.
