Professor Refika OLGAN completed her undergraduate studies in the Department of Child Development at Hacettepe University. She initially worked as a teacher and administrator in institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. Later, under the provisions of Law No. 1416 and with a scholarship from the Ministry of National Education, she pursued her graduate studies in the United States. She earned her master’s degree from Texas A&M University in 2003 and her doctorate from Florida State University in 2008.

Since 2009, Dr. OLGAN has been a faculty member in the Department of Preschool Education at the Faculty of Education, Middle East Technical University, where she teaches undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral courses. Her academic work focuses on early childhood education, particularly science and environmental education, child observation and assessment, education for sustainable development, and children’s literature. She has numerous published scientific articles, book chapters, project contributions, and conference presentations at both national and international levels.