Gunin is originally from Ankara, Turkey. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey, and a doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Maine. She is a Silver Life Member of the Montgomery County-Radford City-Floyd County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an active member of the Education Issues Group of Dialogue on Race, and a member of the Rotary Club of Blacksburg. She lives in Blacksburg with her husband, and together they have 3 children.

Gunin Kiran previously served as a school board member for Montgomery County, Virginia, from District A. She served 2 terms from 2014 to 2021 and was the school board chair from 2016 to 2020.

Gunin is a chemical engineer by training. She previously worked as a substitute teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools and as a sales associate at Imaginations Toy Store. She also served as a public education advocate.