“We will be guided by the academic and ethical principles of Boğaziçi University in protecting and carrying our values into the future”
Professor Mehmed Özkan starts his term as President of Boğaziçi University
The decision regarding the appointment of Professor Mehmed Özkan as President of Boğaziçi University has been published in the Official Gazette. Professor Özkan served as Vice President and Advisor to the President during Professor Barbarosoğlu’s term as President from 2012 to 2016.
In his message to the academic staff, students and employees of Boğaziçi University, Professor Özkan stated that while working to expand the university’s academic and scientific achievements, his priority would be “to do everything in [his] power to cherish Boğaziçi University’s participatory, pluralistic and libertarian traditions and carry its values into the future.”
In his message, he underlined the significant role that its students played in the University’s achievements, adding, “It is with your contributions that Boğaziçi University ranks among the leading academic institutions in the world. For many years, the most creative, hard working and successful students in our country have chosen to study at Boğaziçi University. Please have no doubt that I will do my utmost to enable you to achieve your academic objectives and continue your education in a peaceful and free environment.”
To the employees of Boğaziçi University, Professor Özkan said, “I am well aware that you work diligently to make sure that this institution functions smoothly and successfully. At this point, we need more than ever to work hard in unity and solidarity. With your devoted efforts we will be able to protect and advance this institution, which is so valuable and important to all of us and to our country, and to carry it to the future.”
Professor Mehmed Özkan’s message to the academic staff was as follows:
“Dear Colleagues,
I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Professor Gülay Barbarosoğlu for all the remarkable contributions she made to our university during her four years as President. During her administration, academic achievements and the determination to uphold universal academic values have carried forward Boğaziçi University’s respectability in the world.
As of November 2016, I will serve as President of Boğaziçi University, continuing the administrative work that I have carried out since 2012, first as advisor to the President and then as Vice President.
In my efforts to expand the university’s academic and scientific achievements, my fundamental priority during my term as Rector will be to do everything in my power to cherish Boğaziçi University’s participatory, pluralistic and libertarian traditions and carry its values to the future.
Our guide in this endeavor will be Boğaziçi University’s academic and ethical principles that have been developed through the years and duly announced. In this context, I would like to underline my determination to implement, in an effective, transparent and highly principled manner, the university’s administrative approach in which the preferences of the councils and commissions, as well as the faculties and departments have a determining role.
Only with your support will it be possible to protect and advance this institution that is so valuable and important to all of us and to our country, and to carry it to the future. You may be certain that I will work hard to pave the way for any contributions you will make and to create further opportunities.
I would like to express my thanks for the understanding, trust and support that I hope you will show myself and our friends in the new administration and wish you a happy, successful new term.”
About Prof. Mehmed Özkan
Professor Mehmed Özkan received his B.S. degree from Boğaziçi University Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department in 1986. He pursued his graduate studies at Vanderbilt University Department of Electrical Engineering, concentrating on the fields of robotic surgery and intelligent robots, earning his Master’s Degree in 1988 and Ph.D. in 1991.
While working towards a Master’s Degree, Özkan also worked as research assistant at Vanderbilt University, and then as administrator of the “Intelligent Robotics Laboratory” in US and Japanese industrial projects; he also took part in NIH-funded projects. During his PhD work, he was employed as research associate responsible for R&D on surgical robotics at the Department of Neurological Surgery of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In 1992, he went to Tokyo, Japan where he conducted postdoctoral research at a private institution, focusing on the use of muscle-like pneumatic actuators in robotics.
Returning to Boğaziçi University in 1995, he served as the director of the Biomedical Engineering Institute from 1995 to 2016. From 2012 to 2016 he served as Academic Advisor to Professor Gülay Barbarosoğlu, Rector of Boğaziçi University, and eventually as Vice Rector responsible for research from August 2016 until his appointment as Rector.
Professor Özkan is currently conducting an interdisciplinary study on the development of anthropomorphic prosthetic hands.