Resume

Education

  • Fulbright Program | Ankara, Turkey | 2011-2012

    • Conducted independent research on liberalism and tolerance in Turkish politics.
  • University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | 2006-2011

    • B.A. summa cum laude with Honors, Economics & International Studies. May 2011.
    • Honors Thesis: “Conspiracism in Turkish Politics”
    • GPA in Economics: 4.0. GPA in International Studies: 4.0. Overall: 3.9.
    • Selected coursework: Econometrics, Economics of Strategy, Public Sector Economics, Development Economics, International Political Economy, Turkish
  • Bogazici University | Istanbul, Turkey | Summer 2010, Spring 2009

    • Attended intensive summer language program and semester abroad.
    • Focused on Turkish language, political economy, and history of Turkey.
  • Middle East Technical University | Ankara, Turkey | Fall 2008

    • Focused on Turkish language, Turkish foreign policy, and European integration.
  • Koch Summer Fellow Program | Washington, DC | Summer 2008

    • Attended a weeklong seminar on market-based public policy analysis.
    • Completed and presented a research project on U.S. arms control policy.
  • Globalization, Technology & Development seminar, Institute for Humane Studies | San Jose, CA | Summer 2007

    • Participated in lectures and seminars on liberty and prosperity in the global economy
    • Researched, presented and won first place for a group project on trust structures in Internet commerce.
  • Flinn Scholars Central Europe seminar, Institute for International Education | Budapest, Hungary | Summer 2007

    • Traveled extensively in Hungary and Romania
    • Attended daily lectures by scholars and policymakers on the culture, politics, and history of Central Europe

Experience

  • Arizona Desert Lamp, Blogger & co-founder | Fall 2008 - Spring 2011
  • First place, America’s Future Foundation College Blogger award

    • Reported on student government and university policy from an independent perspective.
    • Organized information and advocacy projects, including a student candidate policy survey, a review of campus drug arrests, a sidewalk chalk free speech campaign, and an incidental fee protection pledge.
  • Technology Policy Institute, Research intern | Washington, DC | Summer 2008

    • Conducted research on the information economy, including health IT, broadband coverage in West Africa, H-1B visa policy, and self-regulatory organizations.
  • Arizona Daily Wildcat, Opinions Editor | Tucson, Arizona | Fall 2007-Spring 2008

  • First place, editorial writing, Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence award
  • Daily Wildcat award for distinguished editorial writing

    • Recruited, hired, and managed a staff of 16 daily columnists. Led weekly editorial board meetings.
    • Wrote 108 articles on deadline, including daily editorials and weekly columns.
    • Revised and edited articles for content and style.
  • Tucson Parks & Recreation, Water Safety Instructor | Tucson, Arizona | 2004-2007

    • Taught daily swimming and water safety lessons to 3-12 year olds. Enforced rules and responded to emergencies.

Skills

  • Advanced Turkish, elementary Kurmanji Kurdish.
  • Python: Django, Bottle, Google App Engine.
  • Clojure/ClojureScript
  • HTML5/CSS3/Javascript
  • Basic regression analysis with STATA and R.

Activities, Scholarships, & Awards

  • Outstanding Senior, UA College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Pillars of Excellence Award, University of Arizona
  • Department of Education FLAS Fellow
  • National Security Education Program Boren Scholar
  • Flinn Foundation Scholar
  • Student Preceptor, Honors Near & Middle East Colloquium
  • International Studies Student Association, UA Economics Society