ftaa-board-nominations-2026

Criteria for Nominees

Nominees must have the following requirements:

– Legal Resident or Citizen of the United States
– At least one full year of membership in FTAA
– Must be able to speak and write in English and Turkish
– Must be at least 21 years of age

BIOS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE 2026 FTAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Hatice Hasman Fugate is a medical doctor who graduated from the Dokuz Eylül
University:Faculty of Medicine in İzmir, Türkiye. She completed her residency training at the Ankara Numune Hospital and became a specialist in Infectious Diseases. She is also a researcher with multiple published scientific papers. Currently, Dr. Hasman works as a Primary Care Provider and will begin her Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Larkin Hospital on July 1, 2026. She has been serving as the President of the Florida Turkish American Association (FTAA) for one year and believes it is essential to protect and promote Turkish culture and Atatürk’s principles, and to transmit them on to new
generations. She is proud to serve the Turkish community in South Florida. She is also
a member of FTAA Atatürk Chorus as well as the Adult Folklore Club. Outside of
medicine, she enjoys reading, listening to music and singing, water sports, and
traveling.

Dr. Sabri Tosunoğlu received his Ph.D. at the University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida, MS and BS degrees from the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara,
Türkiye; all in Mechanical Engineering. He worked at the University of Texas at Austin
and later at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida, as tenured faculty.
Currently he continues to work at FIU as a research faculty and teaches. Dr. Tosunoglu
has worked in the robotics field and authored numerous papers in journals and
conference proceedings. He received research grants from the NSF, US Air Force, US
Army, and US DOE. He is also an ABET Accreditation Board Program Evaluator (PE).
He enjoys running, walking and is an avid music enthusiast, who is a member of the
Florida Turkish American Association (FTAA) Atatürk Chorus and recently started playing darbuka as the head of FTAA Percussion Club. He served as Vice President of FTAA in 2025.

Uğur Dağkılıç is originally from Ankara, Türkiye. He has been living in the US for 30
years. His professional expertise lies in the construction and real estate fields, and is
self-employed. He is deeply dedicated to help the Turkish community keep its cultural
values and pass them on to the new generations. Mr. Dağkılıç served as Treasurer on
the FTAA Board of Directors in 2025. He is well versed on audio-visual and technical
fields as he is also known as DJ Uğur. Additionally, he participated in the FTAA Atatürk
Chorus as a member.

Gürsel Öztürk has worked as a history teacher in Türkiye and earned her retirement
after years of service. She has been living in the United States since 2002. After settling
in the US, she studied and completed her education in Medical Assisting in Boston,
Massachusetts. After receiving her diploma, she worked in this field. For many years, she has been an active and enthusiastic member of FTAA, participating in many of the
association activities. Gürsel is deeply committed to FTAA and wants to contribute
more actively by serving on the Board of Directors, sharing her knowledge, experience,
and dedication with members and other people interested in Turkish culture. She has
been and continues to be a member of the FTAA Atatürk Chorus. Her hobbies include
handicrafts, reading, traveling, music, and dancing.

Gülay Partida is a professional stylist specializing in classic clothing. After receiving her education in Türkiye, she continued her career in the United States. She has been
working at a Yacht Company since 2010, focusing on interior design and decoration of
yachts. As a nature lover, she enjoys simpler things in life, enjoys hiking, and is an avid
animal lover. Ms. Partida is a member of the FTAA Atatürk Chorus, Adult Folklore Club,
and the Percussion Club.

Mine Tahaoğlu graduated from the Üsküdar American Academy for Girls in İstanbul,
Türkiye. She moved to the US in 1971 with her husband and daughter, and
subsequently became a US citizen. She worked for the Graybar Advertising Agency for
5 years in the billing department covering several TV stations in the States. After her
son was born, she joined her husband’s METEL Photography Studio in New York City
and worked there for 8 years. After moving to Florida, she became a member of the
FTAA Atatürk Chorus in 2012. Ms. Tahaoğlu also served as Vice President of FTAA for
6 years. She is still an active member of the chorus. Her hobbies include skiing, music
and playing golf.

Sema Akçay was born in Eskişehir, Türkiye. She graduated from the Department of
Economics at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences of Anadolu University, Eskişehir,
Türkiye. She worked at Turkish Electricity Distribution Company (a state-owned
company) for 32 years. She retired from her position as the head of the procurement
and purchasing department. Socially, she has been actively involved as a volunteer in
the Atatürkist Thought Association, the Association for the Protection of Girls aged 13-
18, and the TEDAŞ Protection and Assistance Association. Ms. Akçay enjoys dancing,
singing and playing darbuka. She is a member of the FTAA Atatürk Chorus, the
Percussion Club and the Adult Folklore Club.

Election Commitee

Mehmet Akcay

Fuat Ornarli

Hesna Aksehirli

Tanju Munis

By-Laws Commitee

Fuat Ornarli

Mehmet Akcay

Enis Pinar

Ayse Boray

Audit Commitee

Fuat Ornarli

Mehmet Akcay

Atilla Orkan

Ethic Council

Meral Ornarli

Feray Akcay

Aysegul Colak