Dr. Esra Bayraktar

Office Hours: MW 12:15-1:15 and 2:15-4:15 Zoom only
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Professional Biography

Dr. Esra Bayraktar earned her PhD in Islamic Mysticism (Sufism) from the Faculty of Divinity at Ankara University, an MA in Communication from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University, and a BA in English Literature from Hacettepe University. Dr. Bayraktar has held various significant roles in academic, governmental, and cultural institutions. She has served as an editor and translator at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, as an advisor to the Secretary General of the Turkish Parliament, and as a government official in the Foreign Relations and Protocol Department. Additionally, she has contributed to the academic community at Michigan State University.

Currently, Dr. Bayraktar is an instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she teaches in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Her teaching focuses on Turkish Language and literature. She also guides students and young professionals, offering support in academic growth and personal development, particularly in the areas of Islamic mindfulness and spiritual well-being. In 2021, her PhD dissertation, titled "Munir Derman: His Life, Works, and Thoughts on Sufism," was published.

Dr. Bayraktar resides in Cary, North Carolina, with her husband, three daughters, and two cats.