In 2019, she was awarded the Pro Merito Medal of the Council of Europe for her service to that body in advancing women's rights.
She furthered her education in the United States, earning a master's degree in 1973 and a PhD in 1976, from Bryn Mawr College in political sociology.
[2] After completing her studies, Acar returned to Turkey and was hired as an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration at the Middle East Technical University (METU), teaching sociology.
[13] In 2019, Acar was awarded the Pro Merito Medal of the Council of Europe for her service in advancing women's rights.
She has written on women in academia and education, in socio-political movements, and with regard to international human rights standards.