Defne Eren is a rising junior at George Washington University, double majoring in Political Science and Psychology & Brain Sciences. Her concentrations are in comparative politics and international relations for her political science major, and social and cultural psychology for her other major. In summer 2025, Defne interned at one of Türkiye’s top law firms, Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Law Firm, where she researched renewable energy cooperation among European law firms and observed Turkish court proceedings.

Defne was born and raised in Ankara, Türkiye, until she moved to the United States at age ten. After spending a year in Virginia, she followed her diplomatic family for a three-year assignment in Sofia, Bulgaria. She completed her International Baccalaureate Diploma in Falls Church City, Virginia, and graduated with honors.

At GWU, Defne was elected First-Year Representative of the Turkish Student Association, Vice President her sophomore year, and President since January 2026. She joined the Phi Alpha Delta Professional Pre-Law Fraternity’s Chapter at GW and is an active member of the GW American Parliamentary Debate Society and the GW Balkan Student Association. Defne is fully bilingual in Turkish and English and speaks intermediate French. After graduating, Defne plans to attend law school and pursue a master’s degree in international business and renewable energy law, with a focus on nuclear energy policies.