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Biography
An adjunct professor at the Schar School, Suleyman Ozeren formerly served as the director of the International Center for Terrorism and Transnational Crime (UTSAM) in Turkey. He has worked collaboratively with numerous organizations and institutions including the European Union; the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; U.S. Congress; George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies; and Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF).
His research interests focus on terrorism and counterterrorism, conflict resolution, the Kurdish issue, the Middle East, cybercrime, countering violent extremism (CVE), and forced migration. He is extensively involved in the Kurdish Resolution processes. Ozeren has conducted hands-on research on groups, including PKK, ISIS, al Qaeda, and Hezbollah. Part of his research included interviewing convicted terrorists and disintegrated and de-radicalized individuals. In addition, he has studied diaspora radicalization, forced migration, and refugees.
Ozeren has received grants and external funding for several projects from both national and international institutions including NATO, the U.S. State Department, the Scientific and Technological Research Council, and the European Union. His recent research project titled, “Countering Violent Extremism by Unraveling the Propaganda and Recruitment Techniques of ISIS in Turkey,” was funded by the U.S. State Department.
He helped organize a NATO Advanced Research (ARW) Workshop, "Post-ISIS Era Regional and Global Implications," in collaboration with NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Program and the Schar School, held in Washington, D.C., in 2019.
Ozeren has served as author or coeditor of many publications including From Territorial Defeat to Global ISIS: Lessons Learned (2021), Understanding Terrorism: Analysis of Sociological and Psychological Aspects, and "ISIS in Cyberspace: Findings from Social Media Research."
He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses on terrorism and counterterrorism, conflict resolution, forced migration, and cybercrime at various universities. In recognition of his success in teaching at George Mason University, he was nominated in 2021 for the Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award and the Online Teaching Excellence Award.
Ozeren has contributed commentaries and opinion pieces to several media outlets including the Jerusalem Post, Reuters, Al Arabiya English, Voice of America, Sky News Arabia, Ahval News, and Al Arabiya News.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in security science from the Turkish National Police Academy, and both his master’s degree in criminal justice and doctoral degree in information science from the University of North Texas.