John earned an MFA in Creative Writing, with a concentration in poetry at Long Island University, Brooklyn, and specializes in research methods and strategies, rhetoric, academic writing, creative writing, technical writing, Native-American Literature, African-American Literature, the New York School, and Black Mountain College. He prefers classroom dynamics that allow students to become active participants in discussion. As a teacher, he operates on the premise that students should not have to sacrifice their personal and cultural identities in order to receive an outstanding education. Rather, such identities are integral to establishing meaningful connections to new texts and ideas.

Umur works as an Academic Writing Instructor and specializes in: cross cultural issues in rhetoric, academic writing, computer in language instruction, and practical translation. He earned an MA in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language at Bilkent University in Ankara and believes that school is for students.

Edward studied philosophy at Queen’s University (at Kingston). He began teaching English Composition in 2002. In addition to his work at Bilkent and Koç University, he taught composition at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco. His primary philosophical interests are philosophy of language, concept and category formation, and the epistemology of religious life. He has a keen interest in using philosophy in the classroom to promote critical thinking and argumentation. Ed enjoys questioning the role of received notions of good practices. At Bilkent he presented “Why the audience doesn’t matter,” using the writing of Wittgenstein and Derrida to push his point. Ed is very much interested in the question of how course objectives and the language used to describe essay requirements are influenced by questionable philosophical theories of language.

Mehmet is an instructor of academic writing and previously worked as a professional theatre actor/director and instructor of aesthetic interpretation/understanding. He earned a BA in Western Languages and Literatures at Boğaziçi University, an MA in American Culture and Literature at Kadir Has University (full scholarship), and a PhD in Comparative Literature at Istanbul University. At Koç University, he has taught ACWR 101 (Basic Academic Writing), with a focus on Art and Aesthetics, and ASIU 102 (Imagining the Other). His areas of interest include: Postwar Theatre, Victorian Literature, Absurd Theatre, Existentialism, Film Studies, Acting, and Performance Studies. His believes in putting your character in the class. Do not look for answers, look for questions!

Gülfer earned a BA in Western Languages and Literatures/Literature from Boğaziçi University in 2004, an MA in English Literature from Boğaziçi University in 2007, and a PhD. in English from Tufts University, expected in Fall 2018. She began teaching university-level writing courses and literature courses at Tufts University in Boston in 2008, where she was a PhD student and writing consultant. During her academic and professional career, she has presented papers and published articles and book reviews. She has been on both sides of the writing process as a teacher and writer, so she is aware of and takes into consideration the challenges that students face. As she believes that one of the main responsibilities of the university is to encourage critical thinking, she builds her courses around concepts such as the environment, injustices, gender inequality, racial issues, and poverty and class. Her areas of interest are: composition studies, writing in the disciplines, history of the book, paratext and the editorial process, African-American literature, the novel, gender studies, and environmental studies. She currently teaches ACWR 101 (Food for Thought). She emphasizes the value of analytical thinking and classroom discussion as indispensable elements in learning how to write. Good writing is first and foremost the result of an independent mind that can analyze a subject in the light of knowledge and personal experience. This process will enable students to build perspectives of their own, which they can utilize not only in their writing classes, but also in their daily lives.

Gülay holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Long Island University and specializes in Fiction Analysis, Creative Writing, and Academic Writing.

David’s areas of interest include: Philosophy of Language, Epistemology, Existentialism, Philosophy in Literature, Irish Literature, Writing as Thinking, and LI Interference. His teaching philosophy is that teachers facilitate learning. Learning occurs in the student. Regardless of what a teacher thinks she is teaching, what is of more concern is what the learner is learning. When it comes to the skill of writing, the teacher’s role is to help the student develop her thought processes, grow in confidence in expressing those thoughts, and ultimately facilitate the development of the writer’s own voice.

Neslihan holds a BA in English Literature from Boğaziçi University and a Phd in Literary Criticism from Leiden University (in progress). Her areas of interest include: university writing, dissertation writing, literary criticism, and gender studies. She believes that writing is a process.

Burcu holds a PhD in Literary Studies from Monash University, and her areas of interest include: academic literacy, content- based academic writing, writing in the humanities, and curriculum design. Her teaching philosophy is: “Fail again. Fail better,” as Beckett says. She believes in the importance of learn from one’s mistakes and that there is always room for improvement.