The university is pleased to announce the recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Awards for the 2024–25 academic year. Miri Besken, Ayşe Collins, Çiğdem Fıçıcı, Haldun Özaktaş and Firdevs Ulus were chosen for demonstrating outstanding teaching abilities and for contributing to students’ academic and intellectual development.
Miri Besken (PSYC)
I am deeply grateful and humbled to have received the Distinguished Teaching Award. I want to sincerely thank my department chair, Michelle Adams; my colleague, friend and associate dean, Hande Ilgaz; and my dean, Refet Gürkaynak, for nominating me, writing heart-felt endorsement letters and preparing my application portfolio—unbeknownst to me. I’m also truly thankful to all my past and present students who wrote such thoughtful, generous and moving testimonials. Your words made me feel the pride of meaningful work.
Being a university professor at Bilkent means striving for excellence in research, but teaching has always held a special place in my heart. It offers the chance to make a real impact—helping students discover new perspectives, expand their horizons and learn something new about themselves or the world. When a student lights up because something clicks, it’s magic. That spark is why I do this.
In high school, I struggled with public speaking and often felt I couldn’t express myself clearly. I was even teased for it. But over the years—through persistence and the support and feedback of students and colleagues—I found my voice. That young girl who thought she’d never be able to explain herself clearly is now proud of how far she’s come.
A big part of that growth came from realizing that teaching is not a solo performance—it is a two-way conversation. As I challenge my students, they challenge me back, pushing me to think more deeply and broadly. And teaching doesn’t stop when class ends; it continues through mentoring, conversations and shared research.
This award acknowledges that the way I try to teach, connect and grow resonates with others, too. I hope to continue on this path, inspiring future generations to become better scientists, more thoughtful psychologists and more self-aware human beings.
Please read statements from the distinguished teachers below:
I am thrilled to be among the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Teaching Awards at Bilkent University. Bilkent has been my first and only university “home” since I was a fresh PhD-holder. Back then, my higher education journey had just started with the ever-encouraging METU Prof. Dr Mustafa Parlar “Thesis of the year” award I received for my dissertation on educational sciences. Ignited with this spark, my passion for education has never wavered in 25 years, and I am beyond happy that it is now crowned with this Distinguished Teaching Award. I would like to thank Bilkent University for considering me for this recognition and allowing me to design and teach topics that I have always been passionate about.
Teaching is a privilege, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to contribute to the growth and success of so many talented individuals during my years at Bilkent University. I am deeply grateful to my students, our alumni and colleagues; I have always been inspired by their support. As I am a strong believer in the co-creation of educational experiences, I also share this award with my students and alumni who continue to encourage me with their heartfelt feedback. We are always stronger together.
I would like to reiterate my teaching philosophy, hoping it will inspire future generations with the teaching “bug:” educational growth means empowering individuals with real-life autonomy as well as developing in them an autotelic drive for an inclusive, equitable and diverse society. To achieve this, one must strive, without compromise, for a strong alignment between mindset, research and teaching practices. This is what keeps me going every day with the hope that tomorrow will be a better day.
I am deeply honored and happy to receive the 2025 Bilkent University Distinguished Teaching Award. This recognition means a great deal to me, and I would like to thank especially my former and current students, my family, my dearest colleagues and friends, and the entire community of the English Language Preparatory Programme (ELPP) for their ongoing support and encouragement. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. John O’Dwyer, Dr. Elif Kantarcıoğlu, Dr. Hande Işık Scott, Dr. Ayça Üner, Gökçen Çolak, Elizabeth Grace Richter, Ümran Ölmez Board, İlknur Halıcı Yılmaz and Şule Şenel for their invaluable contributions to my professional growth.
Teaching in ELPP is a unique experience. We meet students at such a crucial point, right before they step into university life. It’s a year of transition, full of uncertainty, excitement and growth. For me, it’s a privilege to help students find their voice in a new language and environment and to see them slowly start believing in themselves as learners, thinkers and future professionals. Each and every student I’ve had the chance to teach has not only challenged me to be better but also taught me something in return about resilience, curiosity and the power of communication. I see language teaching not just as skill development but as an act of connection. My goal has always been to create a classroom environment where students feel seen, safe and inspired to express themselves. Language is not only a tool for academic success but also a key to confidence, identity and opportunity. Being able to contribute to this transformation has been incredibly rewarding.
This award has given me a moment to pause and reflect on the path I’ve taken as a teacher. It reminds me of the importance of compassion, adaptability and lifelong learning. I remain committed to the shared mission we all have at İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University: to educate, to empower and to grow together.
Thanks again for this incredible honor.
I would like to thank the students, alumni and colleagues who wrote endorsements, the students who have written comments in course evaluations over the past 35 years, the nomination committee, the award committee,
and the chair and dean. I am grateful to my past teachers who left a mark on me, the students I learned from as I taught and my parents who were my earliest teachers and left the most enduring impression. Past students and colleagues contacted for endorsements took this as an opportunity to reach out to me and share their thoughts and memories. The value of reconnecting with them and hearing their heartfelt appreciation transcends any award. Learning how their interactions with me influenced their own research, teaching, and work was precious.
As a teacher I cherish the opportunity to interact with young people as well as the challenge to explain difficult concepts. At its best, teaching is a cross between storytelling, interactive theater performance and stand-up comedy. It is a performance art. I love to model the process of striving to gain deep and profound understanding. I try to share the pleasure of uncovering the unknown, making connections and unifying things. I want students to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a topic through dedicated effort. Teachers are models for students, whose qualities they will choose to adopt or reject as they clarify their values. Thus, students should witness how their professors handle questions about purpose as well as about efficiency: “What do we want to achieve and why?” as well as “How do we achieve this?”
I would like to conclude by reflecting on a few of the principles I had outlined in “A Teaching Manifesto”as a brazen young academic 30 years ago: “Give students maximum freedom in how they learn,” “Acknowledge your subjectivity,” “Treat students as you treat other people,” “Do not ignore the social and cultural setting in which education takes place,” “Do not make students feel as if they are competing with each other” and “Be precise, predictable, and reliable.”
I am truly honored to receive this Distinguished Teaching Award. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all my current and former students, my colleagues and our department chair for their generous and thoughtful letters of support. It is deeply meaningful to be recognized by a community I admire and feel proud to be a part of.
My teaching philosophy is grounded in a quote by Galileo: “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.” I believe that meaningful learning happens when students begin to make knowledge their own—when they connect new ideas with their curiosity, values and experiences. As a teacher, I see my role as guiding and supporting that process rather than simply delivering information.
Throughout my journey, I have been shaped and inspired by exceptional teachers and colleagues. Their generosity, insight and example have left a lasting impact on how I think about teaching. I continue to learn from them, just as I learn from my students. Working with students—through teaching, advising and simply being in conversation with them—has been an enriching part of my academic life. Their questions, perspectives and growth constantly challenge me to reflect and improve. I am deeply proud of them and honored to have had the chance to be part of their learning journeys.
I have also had the privilege of working with outstanding teaching assistants, whose dedication and creativity have greatly enhanced the teaching experience. I’m grateful for the energy and care they bring to our shared work.
Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to this journey. I remain grateful for the opportunity to grow and teach in such a thoughtful and supportive academic community.