Zeynep Ilkkursun holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Istanbul Şehir University and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Koç University in Türkiye. She is pursuing a PhD in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, with a keen focus on the social determinants of mental health among refugee populations.
Zeynep has extensive experience in research and project management, having previously served as a Projects Finance Senior Specialist. Her work has centered on the cultural adaptation, implementation, and scalability of mental health interventions, including involvement with WHO’s Problem Management Plus (PM+) and Self Help Plus (sh+) in Türkiye. Her research interests include the development of culturally sensitive and scalable mental health programs for forcibly displaced populations, with a particular focus on youth and the factors that support the effective implementation of evidence-based interventions to enhance the well-being of displaced communities.
Outside of her academic work, Zeynep enjoys writing and is a proud cat person who shares her life with seven beloved feline companions.