Selen Uçak, Executive Director, since 2006, has significant experience in social enterprise. Previously, she was a founding consultant for Turkish Philanthropy Funds; co-author of a pioneering study on social entrepreneurship; program officer at Tiger Foundation; and assistant director/research fellow at Jerome Levy Forecasting Center. During her graduate studies, Selen was a teaching assistant in social entrepreneurship; an organizer of Global Social Venture Competition, where she continues to serve as a judge; and a development intern at Endeavor Global. Selen holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School as the first Tashman Turkish Fellow and a B.A. in Economics/International Affairs, summa cum laude, from Colorado College. Selen speaks French, German, and beginning Wolof, and writes and serves as an advisor on social entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and international development.

Doğa Kayalar Polat, Director of Programs, also known as Dee, holds an M.P.A. from Indiana University and a B.A. from Bilkent University, both in international relations. She previously worked as Executive Assistant to Turkey's Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations where she assisted with Turkey’s UN Security Council campaign. During her graduate studies, she served as a Program Officer in convention planning and an Associate Instructor of International Policy. She was also a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Economics in Jena, Germany, focusing on the impact of public policy on entrepreneurship. She currently volunteers with Bilkent University Alumni Association (Bilumni) and her high school alumni association in NYC, TED USA, which she helped found in 2008. A native of Turkey and raised partly in the U.S., Doga also speaks conversational French.

Nuray Tasangil, Director of Operations, holds a degree from Istanbul University in Classical Studies. She joined Mavi Jeans, Inc., a global denim brand and manufacturer, as one of the first employees to start the U.S. Corporate Headquarters in 1997. After several positions focused on sales and planning, she became the National Sales Manager in 2003. She was the Director of Operations from 2005, coordinating North American planning and operations, prior to joining American Turkish Society. She currently volunteers at the Beth Israel Medical Center as a Victim’s Advocate; and as a NYCares volunteer where she participates in adult learning projects.

Aramis M. Grant, Administrative and Program Assistant, graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2009, with a B.A. in Journalism. She received her M.A. in Media and Communication Arts from Pace University in 2012. She has several years of non-profit work experience; she previously worked as an Administrative Assistant to the American Jewish Committee and as a Development Associate for the Archdiocese of New York. She currently serves as an editor and contributing writer to a website geared toward women empowerment and women’s general interests.

The American Turkish Society appreciates the generous support of the following individuals and companies.

2011

$50,000 +
Turkcell

$25,000 - $49,999
The Coca- Cola Company
ESBAS
Herrick, Feinstein LLP
J.P.Morgan
Koç Holding A.S.
Perella Weinberg Partners
NYSE Euronext
Sabanci Holding

$10,000 - $24,999
Bloomberg
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Chartis
Turkish American Business Council (TAIK)
DEIK
Dogus Group
Elsie Vance and Attila Askar
Global Yatirim Holding A.S.
Kiraça
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Lexin Capital LLC
Mariner Investment Group LLC
Mica Ertegün
Philanthropy Funds (MASP)
Shearman & Sterling LLP
Tamer and Elif Seçkin
Young Photographers Award Fund at Turkish

$5,000 - $9,999
The Eczacibasi Group
Ford Motor Company
New York City Council of the Arts (MASP)
Mehmet and Lisa Öz
Ramerica International (MASP)
VakifBank USA

$1,000 - $4,999
ACA Language Schools
Asli and Evren Ay
Professor Beyhan Karahan
Carlyle Group
Çigdem Simavi
Citi
The Dilenschneider Group
Emre Bozyigit
Garanti Securities
Is Yatirim Menkul Degerler A.S.
Iqbal Mamdani
Kiska Construction
Laurence Pettit
Lyndsay Howard
The Marmara Manhattan (MASP)
Mehmet Kirdar
Moris Roso
MTS Logistics, Inc. (MASP)
Murat and Nina Köprülü
Murat Sungur Bursa, Zorlu Energy Group
Mustafa and Ebru Canan
NAI Global
The National Basketball Association
Osman Dinçbas, Ernst & Young
Peter Herdrich
Rhea Capital Partners LLP
Robert DePriest
Robert Dunn
Semih Güngör
Seval Öz
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Tishman Speyer
Tom and Oya Christopher
Western Union Foundation
Yildiz and Richard Blackstone