Prof. Dr. Itır Erhart studied English Literature and Philosophy at Boğaziçi University and earned her M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge. She completed her Ph.D. at Boğaziçi University. Since 2001, she has been teaching and conducting research on gender studies, human rights, media, sports sociology, civil society, and social entrepreneurship at Istanbul Bilgi University. She also serves as the rector's advisor on community service and sustainability.In 2004, she began running marathons for social causes. In 2008, along with five friends, she founded "Adım Adım," which now has 130,000 members and has raised 169 million Turkish Liras for 120 NGOs through sports. She is also a co-founder of the transparency platform "Açık Açık" and "Açık Açık Sosyal Girişim." Through these social initiatives, she works on resource and capacity development and impact measurement for NGOs.Due to her contributions to civil society, Itır Erhart has been featured on the "Fark Yaratanlar" (Difference Makers) program. In 2014, she was selected as an Ashoka Fellow. She serves on the boards of Ashoka Turkey, the Theater Cooperative, the Yayındayız Association, Inogar, the Impact Circles Foundation, Bego Jeans, and the TEGV Board of Trustees. She is also a cooperative partner of the İhtiyaç Haritası (Map of Needs).