Busra Yilmaz assists with Youth Programs at Sister Cities International since February 2021, helping with pre and post-programming of theYoung Artists and Authors Showcase, Youth Leadership Summit, and J-1 High School Homestay program.

She received her MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University, Washington DC in May 2021. Her research interests include cultural diplomacy, intercultural exchange, and youth engagement. During her studies at American University, she concentrated on culture, identity, and peace-building.

Busra’s interest in culture and identity begin when she lived in Eastern Turkey with people from various backgrounds. Growing up, she was exposed to multiple languages and cultures which made her curious about the connection between people. During high school, she attended Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program which sparked her interest in cultural diplomacy and international exchange. She received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from TOBB University of Economics and Technology. In 2016, she was awarded the Erasmus+ Scholarship which enabled her to work as a social media and research intern at the European Neighborhood Council in Brussels, Belgium. During her studies, Busra also worked for the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) where she interacted with ambassadors and assisted diplomatic missions during their visits to Turkey.

Busra was a Fulbright Scholar from 2019 to 2023 and currently works as a research and development officer at ADEC Innovations.