Semra ÖZALEV PARLAK was born in 1977 in Bulgaria. She completed her secondary education at a public high school in her hometown, Byal Izvor. In 1995, she moved to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and enrolled in the Department of English Language and Literature at Near East University. After graduating with her Bachelor's degree in 2000, she began working as an English instructor at the same institution. In 2004, she completed her Master’s degree in International Relations at Near East University, further advancing her academic career. She currently holds the position of Vice-Director at the Preparatory School.