Zeynep Başak Çivi Director of Corporate Relations and Development Zeynep Başak Çivi earned a BA in both History and Psychology at the University of Virginia, an MA in Near Eastern Studies at New York University and an MA in Public Administration at Columbia University. Ms Çivi started her professional career at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York City, where she worked on an array of development projects particularly in the areas of gender, energy and environment. Prior to joining UNDP, she worked as a researcher in various international organizations, including Amnesty International USA, the Human Rights Watch, and the EastWest Institute. Upon her return to Türkiye in 2007, she joined IBM Global Business Services as a Management Consultant. Since 2009, Ms Çivi has been the Director of Koç University’s Office of Corporate Relations and Development, focusing her efforts on creating fundraising opportunities for the university.

Berna Simavi Corporate Relations and Development Manager Berna Simavi earned a BA in Economics with a minor in History at the University of Virgina after she completed her high school education at Üsküdar American Academy. Starting her career at 3M Türkiye as a marketing analyst, she later gained experience in editing and publishing at Ajansmedya. After her years in the Marketing Communications department at Turkcell beginning in 2006, she joined the Women on Board initiative as Program Coordinator. Today she has been at Koç University’s Office of Corporate Relations and Development as Corporate Relations and Development Manager.

Güneş İngin Alumni Relations Manger Güneş İngin graduated from Koç University, Department of Psychology (2003), and started her professional career as a Student Development and Support Coordinator at Koç University (February 2004). After focusing on student clubs, volunteer activities, and peer support programs, she transferred to the Resource Development Department under the Rectorate (2007) and ran the first resource development program “Birlikte Varız” (We are together). She later became the Alumni Relations Coordinator (2010) in the Alumni Relations Office, established under the Office of Corporate Relations and Resource Development. She currently serves as the Alumni Relations Manager (2019). Ms. İngin has trained at some of the leading Turkish and international institutions on alumni relations and resource development. After serving on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors (2005-2017) as member, treasurer, and secretary, she is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Association (since 2017). In 2019, she received the Koç University Service Excellence Award.

Aslı Yantra Scholarship Affairs Manager Aslı Yantra graduated from American Collegiate Institute, received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Koç University and completed her Masters in Marketing and Communications at Galatasaray University. She started her professional career at Koç University’s Communications Office. Currently, she is the Scholarship Affairs Manager at the Office of Corporate Relations and Resource Development.
Aslı has been a board member of Koç University’s Alumni Association. She is also the founder and a board member of Sarıyer Leo Club. She is an education volunteer since high school years. She is an active trainer at The Educational Volunteers Foundation of Türkiye (TEGV) and Koç Group’s Ülkem İçin project. Aslı shares her volunteer experience in her personal blog, Aslı’nda Hayat.

Eren Özcan Alumni Relations Assistant Specialist Eren Özcan graduated from Sakarya University with a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations and Marketing in 2018. During the course of his studies, he took part in social responsibility projects including field research and prepared content various ads and blogs. Having worked as a freelancer text editor, Eren completed his internship at A&B, the first PR agency in Türkiye. He later finalized his senior year internship at Koç University’s Office of Corporate Relations and Resource Development and continued as a full-time intern after his graduation which followed his current position as Alumni Relations Assistant Specialist in 2019.

Bahar Dönmez Çakır Corporate Relations and Development Assistant Specialist Bahar Dönmez Çakır graduated from Koç University with a double major in Sociology and Archeology & History of Art in 2018. She received the Vehbi Koç Honor Award three times throughout her education and completed the Gender Studies Certificate Program. She worked as a part-time student in many departments of Koç University. In 2017, she started working as an Assistant Specialist at Çelikel Education Foundation, where she took part in donor relations, resource development, alumni relations and scholarship affairs. In July 2019, she joined Koç University as an Assistant Specialist of Corporate Relations and Resource Development.