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Berrak Kocaoglu, DC '10 - Co-President
Berrak Kocaoglu was born on November 6th 1987 in Istanbul. After
graduating from The Koc School in Turkey, she came to Yale in 2006. She
is majoring in Biomedical Engineering and German Studies. For her
biomedical engineering senior project, she spends ten hours a week
performing brain surgery on murine models in the lab. She has been
involved with Yale Friends of Turkey ever since her freshmen year. This
year, she is the Co-president of Yale Friends of Turkey. Her past work
with Yale Friends of Turkey includes compiling contact information of
Turkish Alumni for Yale Club of Turkey, contacting potential employers
for Bulldogs in Turkey, organizing social and political events,
establishing the Middle Eastern House at Yale and leading the Reach Out
Turkey trips. She is currently a senior in Davenport College. She is
obsessed with shopping for shoes and tasting new exotic fruits. Her
favorite fruit is custard apple.
Basak Otus, SY '10 - Co-President
Basak Otus is a senior in Saybrook College, double-majoring in
Economics and History. She was the Secretary of the YFT two years ago
and has been serving as one of the Editors-in-Chief of the YFT
magazine, Dergi, for the past three years. Her academic interests
include Greek-Turkish relations, behavioral economics, and ancient
languages and civilizations. Basak is also a staff reporter for the
Yale Daily News and a managing editor for the Helicon. Writing
non-fiction, drinking coffee, and cooking Turkish food are among her
favorite leisure time activities.
Zeynep Pamuk, PC '11 - Vice-President
Zeynep Pamuk is a junior Ethics, Politics & Economics major in
Pierson College. She was born in Princeton, NJ, but lived all her life
in Istanbul. Last year she was the Sophomore Liaison for Yale Friends
of Turkey, as well as one of the Editors in Chief of the YFT magazine,
Dergi. This year she is the Vice President and again one of the
Editors-in-Chief. Zeynep is also the art and architecture reporter for
the Yale Daily News and an Events Coordinator for the Yale Literary
Magazine. Her interests include reading, writing, coffee, basketball,
going to museums, watching Olympics and discovering Istanbul over and
over again.
Sinan Ilter, TC '12 - Secretary
Sinan Ilter was born in 1989 in Istanbul Turkey. He graduated from
Robert College of Istanbul in 2008, and is currently a sophomore in
Trumbull College. This is his second year with the YFT as secretary,
having been appointed so last year. He is a prospective mathematics or
physics major. His interests include reading, music and studying in
stacks.
Merve Gurel, SY '12 - Treasurer
Merve Gurel was born on 4 th of July 1989 in Istanbul. She went to the
German High School of Istanbul and is a sophomore in Saybrook College.
After serving as the publicity chair her freshman year, she became the
treasurer of YFT her sophomore year. She was also one of the trip
leaders of Reachout Turkey this past summer. In addition to being on
the board of YFT, Merve is the political action chair of the
International Students Organization and is a member of Maya Consulting.
She is interested in international relations and plans to major in
either political science or economics.
Erin Taner, SM '11 - Social Chair
Erin is in Silliman, Class of 2011. She joined the YFT board this year
as Social Chair. She was born and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However,
a daughter of Turkish immigrant parents, she visits relatives in Turkey
every summer. She is currently pre-med and plans on majoring in
Economics. Most importantly, she thinks everyone should experience
Turkey!
Muhammet Uncuer - President
Muhammet Uncuer is a graduate student in the School of Engineering
& Applied Science. He graduated from Mechanical Engineering
Department of Bogazici University with the second highest grade in
2006. He has M.S. and M.Phil. degrees from Yale University and is now
working towards his PhD degree in Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems
(MEMS). He likes to play basketball, soccer, ping-pong and work out in
the gym.