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.

Alexandria Hadden holds a Masters Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She has taught English and trained English teachers in both the United States and abroad in such diverse countries as Guatemala, Rwanda, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Her areas of specialization are composition and American English pronunciation. Before coming here, Alex served as the tutor training coordinator at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York. Currently, she is teaching in the Academic Writing program here at Koc University. Alex is looking forward to meeting and working with you!

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

Sarah Elizabeth Kilinc, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, has been living in Istanbul since 2004 when she spent a year doing research on culture and identity, supported by a Fulbright fellowship. She received her MA in History of the Republic from Bogazici University in 2007, writing her thesis on the changes in the Turkish education system in the mid 20th century. Her teaching career began at Sisli Terakki Vakif Schools and after two years, she moved to Koc University as an instructor in the English Language Center where she worked for 7 years. Currently, she is serving as the Associate Director of the KU Academic Writing Program. Her research interests are in identity formation, multicultural approaches to education, and education policy.

Kiri is an academic writing instructor and writing consultant. Her areas of specialization and interest include: ecopedagogies and nature-based writing, content-based instruction, project- and genre-based writing, sustainability, writing in the social sciences, African-American and Native American literature, philosophy, and engineering and science. She holds an MEd in Curriculum & Instruction.

Andrija holds a PhD in English Literature and specializes in: Anglo-American Modernism, Modernist poetry, XX century novel, XX century poetry, and academic writing. He believes that real writing starts when you finish the first draft.

Anna holds a BA in English from Arkansas State University and an MA in English, with a focus in film studies, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. At Koç University, she has taught Academic Writing, English 500 (Academic Writing for Graduate Students), ASIU 101 (Film and the Visual), ASIU 111 (Film Genre), and SOSC 111 (Studies in Pop Culture). She is interested in visual culture, television/media studies, cinema, and pop culture. She is a proponent of active learning and encourages her students to engage in critical discussion through the questioning of common assumptions, values, and beliefs. She believes that the ideal classroom environment is one in which she and her students learn together.

Paul is an Academic Writing Instructor and has almost 20 years of teaching experience, more than half of which was in universities in London. He has been a member of the Academic Writing Department of Koç for 5 years and can’t imagine ever doing a different job. He holds an MA in English, Rhetoric, and Writing from San Diego State University. His teaching philosophy is that no matter how impossible a task might seem, there is always a way for you to complete it to the best of your ability. What you have to do is understand why it seems impossible, and how you can use the skills you have to the best effect.

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.

Yamen Rahwan holds a PhD degree in English and Comparative Literary Studies from the University of Warwick, UK. Prior to Koç, he worked at Aleppo University, Özyeğin University and Istanbul Bilgi University, teaching both academic writing and literature. Dr. Rahwan has a wide range of academic interests in languages, philosophy and modern world-literature.

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.

Robert holds an MEd (Master of Education) and specializes in Academic Writing, Educational Psychology, Social Analysis of Education, and History of Art. According to his teaching philosophy, even the dullest texts can be transformed into something pleasurable to read.

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.