Elif Ozturk

Elif Ozturk is a junior at Columbia College studying Political Science and Human Rights. Her work focuses on advancing gender equity and advocating for refugees and displaced populations. She is a Research Assistant at the Institute of Global Politics under the Ann F. Kaplan Women's Initiative, where she supports research and programming on women's leadership and gender equity.

Previously, Elif led the successful effort to pass Minnesota's menstrual equity law, which guarantees free menstrual products in schools and benefits more than one million students statewide. Her advocacy has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, and The Washington Post. She later represented civil society at the United Nations, contributing to international women's rights initiatives through policy research and oral statements. She also served as a Legislative Intern in the Office of US Senator Tina Smith, where she conducted policy research and supported legislative work on issues including immigration and healthcare. This year, she was selected as a 2026 Columbia Social Impact Fellow, where she is developing strategies to advance community-centered social change.