Yusuf Pişan RC 88 and Ata Akın RC 88 Explore the Impact of AI in Education

Last May, Yusuf Pişan RC 88, a computer engineering professor at the University of Washington, Bothell, delivered a keynote speech at Acıbadem University, facilitated by Ata Akın RC 88, the university’s Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. The address focused on using playful interactions with AI to keep educators up to date and, to better support students. Pişan emphasized that teachers cannot evaluate AI-assisted work or coach students effectively without using these tools themselves. “Assign a game with structured reflection, give prompting exercises, and build something small yourself,” Pişan recommended. “The most credible voice belongs to someone who has tried the technology, failed, and learned from it.”

Akın underlined that because AI can accomplish routine educational tasks in minutes, educators can now concentrate on deeper skills. “AI helps us focus more on critical thinking and moral values,” Akın noted. “Students are now asking to be examined orally, even if they prepare written work with AI. In a way, we may be going back to pre-technology methods in education.”

Cenan Çivi RC 98 Appointed Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Koç University

Cenan Çivi RC 98 has been appointed Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Koç University, as the university strengthens its strategic focus on research-driven entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.

In his new role, Çivi will work to translate Koç University’s ambitious innovation vision into tangible impact by bringing together the university’s research capabilities with entrepreneurial talent, industry partnerships, and investment resources. The initiative will include new courses, programs, and collaborations designed to help researchers and students transform promising ideas into high-impact ventures. “Our goal is to bring together the incredible research power of Koç University with the entrepreneurial energy and investment resources that can turn innovation into reality,” Çivi said.

Beril Demircioğlu RC 99 Makes Waves with 2BZ Design in Türkiye and Abroad

After obtaining her BFA and BA in Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and working in New York City at Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects, Beril Demircioğlu felt the call of home and returned to Türkiye to establish her firm, 2BZ Design, in 2010. Since then, she has completed numerous projects, including those for Bilgili Holding and Borusan Holding.

2BZ Design brings together architecture, interior design, and product design under one roof. The firm’s approach places great importance on functionality without becoming monotonous, while incorporating surprising and pleasing elements into its designs. Demircioğlu is particularly excited about her upcoming project in Nairobi, for which she will study the local culture and incorporate local textures into her designs.

Ali Sarılgan RC 15’s TrueMeter Wins Cleantech Analytics Platform of the Year

Ali Sarılgan is the co-founder of TrueMeter, an AI platform that automatically lowers utility bills for multi-location restaurants, retailers, and hotel groups. Before TrueMeter, Sarılgan worked at McKinsey advising utilities and energy investors, then at GameStop managing corporate finance across 4,500 locations where he learned firsthand how broken utility bill management is at scale. Sarılgan is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a Stanford graduate. TrueMeter was named CleanTech Analytics Platform of the Year by Cleantech Breakthrough Awards. Which recognizes the world’s most innovative companies in the climate, energy, and clean technology industries.

Kutay Koraltürk RC 15’s Mobile Gaming Venture Cheers Games Receives Investment

Founded by Kutay Koraltürk, Emre Gercel, Berkay Öztürk and Ertan Ünver, mobile gaming studio Cheer Games has successfully raised $4.5 million in a seed funding round led by Makers Fund. The investment round saw strong participation from notable institutional investors and angel backers. The Istanbul-based gaming startup specializes in creating highquality, engaging puzzles for global audiences. By securing this backing, Koraltürk and his team plan to speed up product development and hire more global talent to their Barcelona headquarters. This latest financial milestone highlights the growing international confidence in Türkiye’s vibrant gaming ecosystem.

Dolunay Kocabağ RC 17 Makes Acting Debut in New York

Dolunay Kocabağ is an actress, composer, and lyricist. After majoring in psychology and minoring in music at York University, she went on to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Following graduation, she made her off-Broadway debut this May in the play A Night of Chekhov. Kocabağ uses the stage name Luna Vintner and has also starred in the film Murder in the Dark. Alongside her acting career, she is an active musician currently working on her first EP. Born with a 92% visual impairment, Kocabağ brings her unique perspective and talent to the stage as she continues to build her career in the arts.

Utku Dilaver RC 15 Appointed as Türkiye Commercial Excellence and Innovation Leader at Pfizer

After graduating from RC, Dilaver studied civil engineering at Boğaziçi University. He has held numerous positions at Pfizer since 2019, notably serving as Country Lead in pediatrics, cardiology, and neurology, and most recently as Senior Country Lead and Senior Commercial Manager of vaccines. His achievements in creating sustainable solutions within Pfizer’s vaccines portfolio, alongside his contributions to strategic planning that supports wide accessibility to vaccines, paved the way for this latest appointment.

Nur Yalman RC 50: An Eminent Scholar and Trustee Emeritus of Robert College

Nur Yalman RC 50: An Eminent Scholar and Trustee Emeritus of Robert College

Prof. Dr. Nur Yalman RC 50, a distinguished alumnus of Robert College, internationally renowned anthropologist, Trustee Emeritus, and lifelong friend of RC, has passed away. After graduating from Robert College, Prof. Dr. Yalman continued his studies at Cambridge University and went on to build an exceptional academic career. He served on the faculties of the University of Chicago and Harvard University, becoming one of the leading scholars in the fields of social anthropology, kinship, religion, and social change. A respected academic and public intellectual, Prof. Dr. Yalman also made significant contributions to higher education in Türkiye. He served for many years as a member and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Koç University, was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was widely regarded as one of Türkiye’s most influential social scientists. Prof. Dr. Yalman joined the Robert College Board of Trustees in 1986 and became Trustee Emeritus in 2004. Throughout his years of service, he remained deeply connected to the school, offering thoughtful guidance, wisdom, and steadfast support. His ties to Robert College also extended through his family. His daughters, and his son-inlaw are valued graduates and longtime supporters of the school. Together with many members of their extended family, they reflect a deep and enduring connection to the Robert College community. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, former students, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy of scholarship, leadership, and service will continue to inspire future generations.

Sibel Horada Coşkun RC 98 Joins Coast Cleaning Efforts Through Art

Horada’s work will draw attention to ecological problems.

The Turkish Friends of LSE, Harvard Club of Turkey, Purdue Alumni Network of Türkiye, Koç Üniversitesi Gönüllüler Farkındalık Grubu, Robert Kolej Mezunlar Derneği, and Çöpüne Sahip Çık Vakfı recently teamed up to promote volunteering and sustainability. The organizations spearheaded a joint coastal cleanup at Sarıyer Kısırkaya Beach to contribute to community welfare and raise awareness about littering. To extend the impact of the event, artist Sibel Horada RC 98 will select pieces from the collected debris and incorporate them into a special artwork, keeping the ecological issue on viewers’ radars.

Horada is widely recognized for work that investigates collective and personal histories through the lens of urban, archaeological, and ecological cultures. She frequently explores memories of erasure, viewing memory not merely as the act of recollection, but as an active process of reproduction and transformation. Her upcoming piece will undoubtedly weave in these signature themes.

Remembering Prof. Osman Nur Yalman RC 50

Members of the Robert College community gathered at Bizimtepe on June 5 to honor the memory of Prof. Osman Nur Yalman, one of the College’s most distinguished alumni and a globally respected social anthropologist.

Family members, friends, alumni, and colleagues came together to celebrate a life dedicated to scholarship, intellectual curiosity, and the pursuit of understanding across cultures and societies. Throughout his remarkable academic career, Prof. Yalman made significant contributions to the field of social anthropology and left a lasting impact through his teaching and research at Harvard University.

Speakers at the memorial reflected on his intellectual legacy, his commitment to education, and his service to institutions including Koç University, where he served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Robert College, where he was an Emeritus Trustee. The gathering provided an opportunity for the community to share memories and pay tribute to a scholar whose life embodied the values of inquiry, excellence, and global citizenship.

Prof. Yalman’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of students, scholars, and alumni. He will be remembered with deep respect, gratitude, and affection.