New RC Alumni Association (RKMD) Board Meets RC Leadership at Bizim Tepe

On October 27, 2025, the newly elected Board of Directors of the Robert College Alumni Association (RKMD) came together with Head of School Whitman Shepard, the school’s senior leadership and Trustees at Bizim Tepe—once again reaffirming the deep and enduring connection between the College and its alumni community.

The gathering marked an important moment at the start of the new RKMD term, coming shortly after the launch of the Association’s first Endowment. With a shared sense of responsibility and purpose, participants discussed both current priorities and future opportunities, focusing on how to best serve the long-term interests of Robert College and its alumni.

For 68 years, RKMD has played a vital role in strengthening ties among alumni while supporting the school’s mission. Building on this legacy, the new Board emphasized its commitment to taking concrete, forward-looking steps—guided by collective insight and shared values—to address evolving needs and opportunities.

The Association also reiterated its dedication to transparency and open communication. Throughout the new term, RKMD will continue to share developments with the alumni community in a timely and well-documented manner, staying true to the principles of solidarity and accountability that are central to the RC experience.

Rooted in the strength of its alumni network, the trust of the school, and the mandate given at the General Assembly on October 19, 2025, RKMD enters this new chapter with a clear vision: to sustain and grow a lifelong community built on connection, contribution, and shared purpose.

The board members of the new term are as follows. 

President: Arif Akdağ RC 88

Vice President: Ali Sancar RC 86 

General Secretary: Ersu Ablak RC 98

Treasurer: Dila Şirin RC 16

Members: Damla Ilıca RC 16, Mert Tanal RC 09, Yaprak Kılıççı RC 89, Önder Dalkıran RC 89, Barış Güner RC 89, Aslı Berkol RC 88, Meltem Kayhan RC 86, Ali Yılmaz RC 85. 

Emre Turanlı RC 97 Appointed as Global CMO for Shell Mobility & Convenience

Turanlı moved into his new role as of January 1, 2026

Emre Turanlı’s long career at Shell has reached a new stage with his appointment as Global CMO for Shell’s Mobility and Convenience business. In his new role,  Turanlı will lead the development of mobility products, elevate the convenience retail experience, and shape how the company engages with more than 30 million customers in 83 countries. Turanlı states his responsibilities span the full gamut of marketing: “My responsibilities encompass fuels, mobility products, global shop formats, food & beverage brands such as Shell Café and Deli2Go, loyalty programs, as well as digital and analytics, strategic partnerships, and motorsports sponsorships, including the 75-year partnership with Ferrari.” Additionally, in his role as Senior Vice President Licensed Markets, he will oversee 60 countries, with more than 15,000 sites. Finally, Turanlı will also serve as the Chairman of the Board of Shell Brands International, serving as steward of the Shell brand.

Turanlı believes in the power of team sports as a model for building high-performing teams in business: “I am a very hands-on leader with a simple mental model of 10% Strategy and 90% execution. I reduce hierarchy, and stay very close to the teams on the ground and customers. “ Indeed, Turanlı’s lifelong involvement in sports—beginning at age five and continuing through RC and beyond—exemplifies the positive impact of sports on leadership.

Burak Cendek RC 00 Appointed Managing Director at Autotech Ventures

Cendek Highlights the Convergence of AI and the Physical Economy.

After RC, Burak Cendek studied electrical engineering at Caltech where he gained exposure to robotics, and later earned an MBA from Chicago Booth. His career has always focused on the intersection of technology and industry, exploring how complex, traditional sectors adopt new tools.  This trajectory led him to the venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, a Menlo Park–based VC firm managing ~$600M. In his new role, Cendek leads the investments in early-stage companies across industrials and transportation.

Cendek states these sectors deserve focused investment because they underpin the physical economy: “The movement of people and goods relies on large-scale systems that remain inefficient, fragmented, and slow to change, creating sustained opportunity for new technology. Some of the most exciting developments today are agentic AI and the rise of physical AI, including robotics and automation that operate directly in the physical world.”


For RC alumni and students interested in the intersection of technology and ground mobility, Cendek’s advice is simple: “Build! It has never been easier to start. Identify a real pain point, begin working on it, and iterate quickly. Building is the fastest way to understand both technology and markets.”

Encouraging the Next Generation of Artists

Since 2006, the RC 97 Art Scholarship in Memory of Özlem Akçakuş has enabled art-oriented RC students to take part in summer workshops around the world, experiences that leave a lasting mark on how they see their work and their future.

This year’s recipients, Ayliz Çıldır and Zeynep Su Bayam, were both accepted to the Summer Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Their works have been on view in the Gould Corridor since November in a small but thoughtful exhibition. While Zeynep Su works primarily with artist books and Ayliz with illustration, their practices meet in a quiet dialogue – playful, inventive, and carefully considered.

Reflecting on the scholarship, RC Art Department Head Alex Downs notes its role in encouraging students to explore beyond familiar boundaries. Established by Özlem Akçakuş’s family and classmates in honor of her love for art, the scholarship continues to open new paths for young artists at RC – quietly, steadily, and with lasting impact.

Returning to the Heart of RC

After many years away from the spotlight, we first reconnected with Ergün Kırlıkovalı RA 70 earlier this year. An entrepreneur whose journey from Robert College to global innovation reflects the lasting power of curiosity and education, he returned to campus as a guest speaker. Following a gathering hosted so generously by him and his wife in November, this time the meeting took place where it perhaps mattered most: on campus, with students. During his visit, Ergün Kırlıkovalı spent nearly a full day at Robert College, meeting with faculty and staff and, above all, engaging with students. His talk, “Ignite Your Genius: The Creative and Innovative Business Is Already in Your Head,” sparked a wide-ranging conversation around ideas, opportunity, and creative thinking. He speaks often at universities around the world, yet he remarked that RC students stood out as one of the most intellectually sharp audiences he has encountered – curious, direct, and unafraid to ask difficult questions. The exchange was lively, demanding, and deeply rewarding on both sides. Alumni were also invited to the talk, and it was especially moving to see classmates from the Class of 70 seated in the front row – there to listen, ReConnect, and show their support. We are excited to share that Ergün Kırlıkovalı will be returning to campus this spring. His next visit will be announced in due course.

Two Cities – One RC Community

The semester break offered a chance to reconnect – first in London, then in Boston – as Robert College leadership spent time with alumni across generations, geographies, and very different life stages. Our annual London AlumNight brought together more than 200 graduates, from RC 67 to RC 25, at Beaufort House. The evening was generously sponsored by Fırat İşbecer RC 98, whose support helped sustain what has become a long-standing London tradition.

Beyond the gathering itself, the London visit included a series of one-on-one meetings with community members, allowing for focused conversations and genuine exchange. We were also warmly hosted by the Ambassador of Türkiye in London, Koray Ertaş, whose hospitality we gratefully acknowledge.

For many alumni – particularly those from earlier generations – the visit carried an added sense of closeness. Spending time once again with Head of School Whitman Shepard and his wife, Bengü Shepard, brought back memories of campus life and underscored the continuity that remains central to the RC experience.

In Boston, nearly 70 alumni and friends gathered at the Harvard Faculty Club, despite a major winter storm forecast for the region. We were honored by the presence of Diğdem Buner, Consul General of Türkiye in Boston, whose attendance added a special note to the evening.

Board Chair Erol Hakanoğlu RC 74, Trustee Prof. Cemal Kafadar RC 73, Head of School Whitman Shepard, and Academic Dean Maura Kelly reconnected with alumni from different generations, many of whom have long-standing academic and personal ties to Boston. As in London, conversations unfolded easily – rooted in shared history and enhanced through continued engagement.

 

Coast-to-Coast ReConnections

In November, our AlumNights tour carried the Robert College spirit from coast to coast and it was an unforgettable journey. From San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego to New York City, alumni gathered to reconnect with the RC energy that continues to link generations. Board Chair Erol Hakanoğlu RC 74 and Head of School Whitman Shepard joined the tour, with each event made possible through the generosity of an alumnus.

The series included an AlumNight at Dalida Mediterranean Restaurant in San Francisco, hosted by owner and award-winning chef Sayat Özyılmaz RC 04; a luncheon hosted by Ergün Kırlıkovalı RA 70; a dinner in San Diego hosted by Hüseyin Tığlı RA 71; and an AlumNight at the Penn Club of New York.

AlumNights in both San Francisco and New York City reached record attendance this year: we welcomed nearly 100 alumni in San Francisco and about 150 in New York City. Our heartfelt thanks to all alumni who showed up and ReConnected!

RC 90 – 35 Years On

This summer, we came together to celebrate 35 years since our graduation from Robert College — a milestone that felt even more meaningful because we had to skip our 30th reunion during the pandemic. We made up for it in style.

More than 80 of us reunited from across Türkiye and around the world — from Australia, the U.S., Europe, the U.K., the UAE and Saudi Arabia — proving once again that distance means little when it comes to RC 90. We laughed, reminisced and danced like the 16- and 17-year-olds we once were — young, hopeful and full of dreams.

And the feeling of being together again? It was like coming home.

No matter how many years pass or how many countries lie between us, when we gather, time collapses. The miles disappear. For a little while, we are simply home — as if there were no moments lost, no boundaries separating our lives today from the youth we shared on that hillside overlooking the Bosphorus.

The mood throughout the celebration was joyful and relaxed. Many of us are now empty nesters or on our way there; some are inching closer to grandparenthood. But who cares about age? When we’re together, all those markers fade, and we return to the friendships, the music and the sense of possibility that shaped us.

Our beloved history teacher Hafize hanım once said at a homecoming, “You’re at the age where you know yourselves, you’ve succeeded, and now you give back to your community.” How true that feels today. We have become a class of givers, fundraisers, mentors and participants — always ready to serve our alma mater, each other and the greater good.

This year, we also celebrated the extraordinary leadership that keeps RC 90 strong. Our Student Council President İgal has, in many ways, been our de facto leader ever since graduation. His calm and wise presence, steady optimism and ability to bring people together have been invaluable. Thanks to him, our committee worked with harmony, purpose and true RC spirit.

Our tireless class agents — Mete, Aysan and Okan — once again showed what dedication looks like. They never gave up on us and have made RC 90 one of the top classes in giving and participation. We are deeply grateful for their efforts, which bind us together year after year.

Our class DJ, Burak, deserves a special mention for keeping the beat — literally — for more than three decades, connecting us through the music that has become the soundtrack of our lives. And our runner friend Ahmet, who ran miles (and then some!) to raise funds for Robert College, continues to embody the spirit of giving back in the most inspiring way.

The night of our reunion had another highlight: Mete’s unforgettable, stand-up-worthy performance, which had everyone in stitches. If he ever decides to switch careers, the stage is waiting!

A heartfelt thank you also goes to Bizim Tepe and the RC Alumni Association for their warm support and for helping us create a night worthy of 35 years of friendship.

Here’s to 35 years of laughter, friendship and shared memories —
and to the people who keep the RC 90 spirit alive.

Taylan Özdemir Aydın RC 21 Secures Funding For Startup

Flyway Health Does AI- Based Data Analysis The seed of Flyway Health was planted when Aydın and his co-founder and college roommate Andre Biehl realized the magnitude of the data analytics gap between what was being done and what was actually possible in the phatmaceutical space with agentic applications. Success followed after hard work, and their company secured a one-million dollar investment before they even graduated. A seed round of three million dollars followed within the same year. Aydın offers a strategic perspective to RC students tempted to leave school early for the startup world: “One reason to stay is that college can function as an informal startup incubator. It’s a place where you can build and fail dozens of times before finding something that naturally sticks, without the full pressure of the outside world. At the very least, you might meet a friend and a future cofounder, just as I did. Enjoy your high school, college years, and keep building!” Reflecting on his foundation at Robert College, Aydın credits both sides of the RC curriculum for his success: “When it comes to technical problem-solving, I owe my intellectual rigor to the mathematics and science teachers at RC,” he explains. “But when it comes to understanding people—interpreting what a client truly needs beyond what is explicitly said—I owe that to the breadth of my social sciences education. From literature to philosophy, my teachers encouraged open discussion, questioning, and nuance in how we  approached ideas and people.”

Duygu Nahum RC 08 Appointed to Key Leadership Position at Kurtsan

Duygu is now the general manager responsible for commercial operations.

As of October 2025, Duygu Nahum has stepped into the role of  general manager responsible for commercial operations at Kurtsan.  A 70-year-old institution, Kurtsan continues to play a pioneering role in Turkey’s consumer health sector. Nahum values her role deeply, joining a distinguished line of  family members and professionals who have contributed to Kurtsan with dedication and rigor.

Nahum finds her role both meaningful and energizing, as it revolves around supporting people’s health every day.  Through brands like Otacı and Roll, she focuses on providing holistic solutions across individuals’ lifelong health journeys—science-led, nature-inspired, and technology-backed.

Nahum credits her time at RC as a significant asset to her professional life: “Beyond its reputation and esteem, the discipline and resilience I gained at RC have shaped my sense of responsibility, perseverance, and leadership—values that continue to guide my professional journey.”