Özlem ÇERÇİOĞLU was born on 11 August 1968 in Nazilli, AYDIN. She completed her elementary, middle and high school education in Nazilli. She graduated from Selçuk Üniversity in 1988. After graduating from the university, she made a name for herself with her successful endeavors abroad. In Newyork, she worked as a customer relationship manager. Particularly, due to her successful social relations, she took office in Turkish Associations, and also engaged in industrial activities.

She took part in social projects such as Support to Education, Fight Against Drugs, Reaching out to Street Children, Protecting Atatürkist Thought, and Family Planning. On 3 November 2002, Özlem Çerçioğlu was elected to the Parliament as Republican People’s Party (CHP) Aydın MP, and she was re-elected to the same post on 22 July 2007.

After her successful run in the Grand National Essembly of Turkey, in order to better serve the city of Aydın, Özlem Çerçioğlu was elected as Aydın and her party’s first woman Mayor on 29 March local elections.

Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu is married and has 2 children, and she speaks English.