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Our Constitution

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Our Board

Muratcan Murat Can Bilgincan, DC '08 - President
He was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. At high school he was a delegate and a chair for Model United Nations conferences. He was also involved in Student Government. After he came to Yale, he chose somewhat different activities to keep himself busy. Freshman year, he was a member of the Ballroom Dancing Team and a board member of Bulldog Productions. Sophomore year, he quit dancing, became the Social Activities Coordinator and PR Chair of YFT, and a 16mm-film Producer for Bulldog Productions. After wrapping up his film, he became the YFT Vice President. He spent his Junior summer interning for Citigroup in New York City. As the current YFT President, he will do his best to create new YFT events and to improve the quality of the existing ones. He hopes to see you at our future events.


Hande Esen Sefik, BK '09 - Vice President
Esen Sefik joined YFT as a historian in her freshmen year and was the treasurer last year. She was born in Sofia on August18, 1985 and immigrated to Turkey in response to forcible change of Turkish names in 1989. She is a graduate of Robert College. She is interested in all aspects of molecular cellular and developmental biology but her true passion is Immunobiology, probably because her own immune system can be described as nonexistent at best. She would like to pursue a career in Immunobiology, in academia or through research. Her favorite activities are devoting time and energy to improve the Yale Friends of Turkey and doing undergraduate research in Dr. Kaech's Lab, working with B6 P14 mice; and yet Ahmet thinks she is a wonderful person :). She leads Turkish Tables and has been active in the organization of Turkish movie nights for three years now. If you are interested in any aspect of Turkish culture and/or identity she would be more than happy to talk over coffee (not because she can't survive without coffee, but because anything related to Turkey is really worth talking about.)

Basak Basak Otus, SY '10 - Secretary
Basak Otus is a sophomore in Saybrook College. She is planning to double-major in Classical Civilizations and International Studies. Her special interest lies in Greek-Turkish relations, while her hobbies include art history, writing and photography. Basak is happy to be serving as the YFT secretary this year and is excited about this year's projects.



Hande Hande Altun, JE '09 - Treasurer
Hande has joined Yale Friends of Turkey board as a freshman liaison two years ago. Her sophomore year, she served as the secretary, so you probably saw her name in your mailbox every week. Hande is interested in international relations, communications and media. She is a junior, doing a political science and psychology double major. This year, she is the Treasurer of Yale Friends of Turkey. Her past work with the organization includes compiling newsletters, finding potential employers for Bulldogs in Turkey, and helping out with special events. Other than YFT, Hande is involved in Global21 (a network of international affairs publications) as the PR Director, Women's Leadership Initiative as a mentor, and Bulldog Productions as the Head of Development.



Yasemin Yasemin Tarhan, ES '09 - Publicity Chair
Yasemin Tarhan was born on March 8th 1988 in Istanbul. After graduating from Uskudar American Academy in Istanbul, she came to Yale in 2005. She is majoring in Architecture and Humanities. Other than YFT, she is involved with the volleyball club and Bulldog Productions. She is a junior in Ezra Stiles.










Hande Volkan Doda, BK '10 - Historian
Volkan is a sophomore in Berkeley College, planning to double major in Architecture and Mechanical Engineering. After attending Istanbul Erkek Lisesi for seven years, he graduated from the United World College of Adriatic, Italy in 2006. This is his first year in the board of YFT, and in addition to his involvement in YFT he is the political action chair of the International Students Organization and holds a position in the executive board of Develop Turkey. He was one of the two leaders of Reach Out Turkey 2007.




Berrak Berrak Kocaoglu, DC '10 - Social Chair
Berrak Kocaoglu was born in November 1987 in Istanbul. After graduating from The Koc School in Istanbul, she came to Yale in 2006. When she was a freshman she was involved in YTF and YMUN. She was also an active member of the Yale Equestrian team. She is a sophomore in Davenport and is going to major in Biomedical Engineering. She works in two labs, and will be the leader of this summer's Reach Out trip to Turkey. She is addicted to shopping and is obsessed with shoes. She thinks the best nights at Yale are Wednesdays, when she goes to Salsa Night. She will be involved in organizing cultural events, talks and major parties, suchs as the traditional Turkish-Greek Party..