Staff
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Ibrahim Anli, Executive Director | i.anli@rumiforum.org
Ibrahim Anli is a civic entrepreneur with a career record that bridges nonprofit and academic experience. He was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2007-08. Ibrahim joined the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (JWF) Ankara office as the diplomacy coordinator in 2010. In 2013, he became the secretary-general of Abant Platform, JWF’s Istanbul-based forum of intellectuals. Ibrahim was a lecturer and acting chair at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil in 2016-17. He is currently a volunteer instructor for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. Ibrahim writes opinions in his independent blog and has published peer-reviewed book chapters and articles. He holds a BA in Economics from Istanbul University, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Sabanci University, and a certificate in Strategic Management for Leaders of NGOs from Harvard University.
Mehmet Saracoglu, Ph.D., Director, Center for Faith, Identity, and Globalization | m.saracoglu@rumiforum.org
Dr. Mehmet Saracoglu is a community organizer with academic experience who brings passion and leadership together. Previously, he served at Rumi Forum as the Public Affairs Director, Government, Media, and Community Affairs Director (Washington, DC), and Executive Director (Maryland).During his graduate studies at the University of Kentucky, he served as the founding president of the Interfaith/ Intercultural Dialogue Organization. Mehmet is an alumnus of Leadership Montgomery`s 2019 Emerging Leaders cohort. He is a member of the United Nations Association-National Capital Area, National Press Club, and Public Diplomacy Council`s Citizen Diplomacy International. Dr. Saracoglu holds Mining Engineering degrees from Istanbul Technical University (B.S.), and the University of Kentucky (M.S. and Ph.D.). He received a Religious and Civic Leaders certificate from the Religious Freedom Center at the Freedom Forum Institute and a Training of the Trainers certificate from Freedom of Religion or Belief Learning Platform. He is a 2023 BJC (Baptist Joint Committee) Fellow.
Tezcan Inanlar, Director of Leadership Development | t.inanlar@rumiforum.org
Tezcan Inanlar serves as Director of Leadership Development at Rumi Forum. Previously, he was Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cydeo, a global tech education company focusing on workforce development from 2018 to 2024. In addition to his professional work, Tezcan has passionately advocated for human rights and religious freedoms. He co-founded “Where Is My Family,” a nonprofit organization advocating for Uyghur human rights. Between 2009-2018, Tezcan served as Director of the Pacifica Institute in SoCal and Seattle, extensively working on interfaith dialog and depolarization. Tezcan has served on the advisory board for the Seattle University School of Theology & Ministry and the board of F.I.R.E. (Fostering Interfaith Relations in the Eastside), an interfaith alliance in Seattle. Tezcan holds an MA in Islamic Studies and Leadership from Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School, a “Leadership, Organizing, and Action: Leading Change” certificate from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University. Tezcan is a fellow at the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, an alumnus of the FBI Citizens Academy, and a member of Braver Angels.