Yasemin Özata Çetinkaya (born Yasemin Özata in 1976) is a Turkish civil servant. She served as the Governor of Sinop from February 16, 2015 until July 16, 2016, when she was removed from office and her husband, a colonel in the
Turkish Army
The Turkish Land Forces () is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for Army, land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Significant campaigns since the ...
Ankara
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...
, she completed her primary school and high school education in her hometown. In 1996, she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in
Public administration
Public administration, or public policy and administration refers to "the management of public programs", or the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day",Kettl, Donald and James Fessler. 2009. ''The Politics of the ...
from
Ankara University
Ankara University () is a public university, public research university in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in Turkey after the History of the Republic of Turkey, formation of the Turkish republ ...
Ministry of the Interior
An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement.
In some states, the ...
, and began her career as a candidate district governor in
Kırıkkale
Kırıkkale is a city in the Central Anatolia Region, Turkey, Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is the seat of Kırıkkale Province and Kırıkkale District.United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. After returning home, she was appointed vice district governor in
Batman Province
Batman Province (, ; ) is a province in Turkey. It was created in May 1990 with the Law No. 3647 taking some parts from the eastern Province of Siirt and some from the southern Province of Mardin. Its area is 4,477 km2, and its population i ...
, from 2011 to 2013 district governor of Hacılar, Kayseri and between 2013 and 2015 district governor in Talas, Kayseri. In 2012, she obtained a PhD degree in Economics from the
Black Sea Technical University
Karadeniz Technical University ( or KTÜ) is a public research university located in Trabzon, in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Established in 1955, it is the fourth oldest university in the country. As a public institution, it operates under ...
.
On February 16, 2015, she was appointed governor of
Sinop Province
Sinop Province (; , ''Sinopi'') is a province of Turkey, along the Black Sea. It is located between 41 and 42 degrees North latitude and between 34 and 35 degrees East longitude. Its area is 5,717 km2, equivalent to 0.73% of Turkey's tot ...
, and took office on March 6, 2015. She became so the third ever female province governor in Turkey.
Özata is married to an officer of the Turkish Army. They have three daughters.