Rumeysa Öztürk: Our Student, Teacher, Colleague, and Friend
On the evening of March 25, 2025, Rumeysa Öztürk, a fifth-year doctoral student in Eliot-Pearson Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University, was stopped by federal officials while she was walking on the street in Somerville, MA. She was detained in a federal facility in Louisiana for six weeks and released on May 9 to return to Tufts while her case proceeds. Tufts University's Office of the President issued these updates on the situation: April 2, March 26, and March 25.
Rumeysa is a student, teacher, colleague, and a valued member of our community. An excellent young scholar, Rumeysa's research area of interest centers on children's and adolescents' positive development in a media-embedded, digitally connected global world. Her dissertation will investigate how adolescents and young adults use social media in prosocial ways. In recognition of her scholarship, Rumeysa received a prestigious department fellowship.
Rumeysa has served as a Teaching Assistant for numerous courses, and her commitment to supporting and mentoring undergraduate students is notable. As one fellow faculty member describes, "It has been an honor and privilege to work with Rumeysa. She goes above and beyond to help create an inspiring and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued and empowered. Rumeysa's motivation, patience, empathy, and ability to engage with students is inspiring. She consistently offers creative and innovative ideas while remaining open to others' perspectives, serving as a role model to our learning community. Her collaborative spirit, intellectual curiosity, positive attitude, and remarkable ability to foster a genuine passion for learning have left an indelible mark on all of our lives."
Beyond her official involvements, Rumeysa strives to create a welcoming environment for everyone in our department and is known for making connections between other students to create strong peer relationships. Rumeysa played a key role in the development and creation of a mosaic representing the values of the department. That mosaic now holds a prominent place in our building for all visitors to see. As a colleague noted, "Rumeysa is a kind, gentle, and service-minded person".
Rumeysa is also a deeply valued member of several Tufts University Chaplaincy communities. Her leadership as a graduate student with different life experiences and practical wisdom has been a profound gift for the undergraduate students on the Medford campus–for both Muslim students and students from other religious and philosophical traditions. A Chaplaincy staff member describes Rumeysa as an "authentic and integrated human being whose academic passion for teaching and child development has helped create unique and rich opportunities for others to make meaning and build community through solidarity."
Rumeysa's presence on campus has been missed, as her genuineness and care for others have been felt deeply here at Tufts. Her fellow students put it best: "Rumeysa is usually the first to arrive on campus: she boils water in the kettle and is ready with a warm greeting. Today, she is still everywhere with us. She is in the Turkish tea that we brewed this morning; she is at the top of our inboxes, planning the pastries she would bring to our iftar tomorrow evening; she is on the wall with her byline in an article about refugee representation in children's television and in a colorful Istanbul postcard; she is in the red swivel chair that she always sits in. Even in a department focused on human development, Rumeysa stands out as someone who reminds us daily of the importance of protecting children, cultivating joy, and connecting to our own deeper humanity. We are not the same without her steady, gentle presence".
We are keeping Rumeysa and her loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time.
Tama Leventhal
Professor and Department Chair
Sara Johnson
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development