Kavakci is the Director of Postcolonial Studies Research Center (PAMER) at Uskudar University. She is also an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations. Kavakçı is a Hafiz-al Qur'an. She received her master's degree from Harvard University and her PhD from Howard University. Kavakçı is currently a professor at George Washington University and Howard University in Washington D.C. She is the mother of two, Fatima Abushanab, 21 and Mariam Kavakci, 20.