Üsküdar American Academy

Üsküdar American Academy
Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi
Istanbul, Turkey
Information
Type	Private co-educational
Established	Historical: September 1, 1873;152 years ago (1873-09-01) [1] Official charter: 1876;150 years ago (1876) [1] Reestablishment in Üsküdar: September 15, 1921;104 years ago (1921-09-15) [1]
Founder	American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions [1]
Oversight	Health and Education Foundation
Principal	Mrs. Ayşe Hillhouse [2]
Head of School	Mr. Cory Carson [2]
Grades	Prep, 9–12 [2]
Enrollment	900 [2]
Campus	18,000 m² (Urban) [2]
Student Union/Association	UAA Student Association [2]
Colors	Blue and White [2]
Nickname	UAA Tigers [2]
Rival	Robert College [1]
Accreditation	MEB, CIS, IB [2]
Yearbook	Memoranda
Website	uaa.k12.tr

Üsküdar American Academy (Turkish: Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi, pronounced [ys.cyd.aɾ a.me.ɾi.kan li.se.si]), often abbreviated as UAA or commonly referred to as Üsküdar Amerikan in Turkish, is a highly selective, ^[3] coeducational, private high school located in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul, Turkey. ^[4]

Founded in 1873 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) and officially recognized by the Ottoman government in 1876, ^[4] it is among the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in Turkey. Originally established in Bahçecik, the Academy has operated on its current campus in Bağlarbaşı, Üsküdar since 1921. ^[4]

Üsküdar American Academy campus aerial view, 2023.

UAA is considered one of the most prestigious private schools in Turkey. ^{[5] [6]} From the late Ottoman era through the Republican period, UAA has produced generations of alumni who have played prominent roles in the arts, sciences, academia, politics, civil society, and business. ^[4] Admission is highly competitive—typically limited to students from the top ~1% of the national entrance exam. ^[7] The school operates fully under the regulations of the Turkish Ministry of National Education. It is also accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and offers both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and selected Advanced Placement (AP) courses. ^[8] UAA graduates regularly continue their studies at Ivy League and other top-ranked universities abroad—including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT—as well as leading Turkish universities such as Boğaziçi University, Koç University, Sabancı University, and Istanbul Technical University. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Background and origins of American schools in Turkey

Ottoman period

See also: Education in the Ottoman Empire

Proclamation of the Tanzimat Edict (Gülhane Hatt-ı Hümayunu), announced by Mustafa Reşid Pasha in the Gülhane Gardens on 3 November 1839, under Sultan Abdülmecid I

UAA is one of several Western institutions, including schools, hospitals, and printing houses—founded in the Ottoman Empire during the Tanzimat era, a period of reform that sought to modernize the state along Western lines in administration, law, the military, and education. ^[13]

Among roughly two dozen surviving educational institutions established during this era, about half were originally founded by Western missions ^[14] —primarily American, French, German, Austrian, and Italian, while Ottoman imperial institutions such as Galatasaray Sultanî, ^[15] and Darülfünun (later reorganized as Istanbul University) ^{[16] [17]} were re-developed under substantial Western influence. ^{[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]}

The schools of the era played a transformative role in expanding access to education and in introducing modern curricula, scientific instruction, and new pedagogical methods. Western institutions, initially aimed at non-Muslim students, developed within the more liberal environment established by the Islahat Edict of 1856, which sought to secure equal civil and legal rights as well as educational opportunities for non-Muslim subjects, and were later attended by Muslim students as well. ^{[24] [25]}

Republican period

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with his adopted daughters, Sabiha Gökçen (right) and Ülkü Adatepe (left), both of whom were students at Üsküdar American Academy.

With the founding of the modern Republic of Turkey, all foreign institutions—including the six American schools that survived—underwent secularization, transforming into key institutions that linked the Republic to the wider Western world with nationalized curricula in accordance with the republican principles and reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. ^{[28] [29] [30] [31]} The 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the founding president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, maintained a cordial relationship that reflected the growing diplomatic and economic ties between their countries. ^{[32] [33] [34]} In 1939, Turkey's second president, İsmet İnönü, delivered a brief address in English on Ankara Radio, conveying “the greetings and affection of the Turkish nation to the American people” and emphasizing Turkish–American friendship. ^{[35] [36] [37]}

The warmth of diplomatic relations during this period and English, rapidly becoming an international lingua franca led to a sharp rise in enrollment at American schools in Turkey, ^{[37] [38] [29]} with the applications reaching unprecedented levels, filling boarding capacities to their limits and parents beginning to register their children several years in advance to secure admission. ^{[39] [40]}

Since 1971, including Üsküdar American Academy, four American schools remain active, alongside Boğaziçi University, which was originally founded as an American institution and later reorganized as a public university. American Collegiate Institute (ACI) and Tarsus American College (TAC) are sister institutions to UAA under the Health and Education Foundation (SEV), the non-profit trust that eventually succeeded the American Board in 2010. ^{[41] [42] [43]}

History of Üsküdar American Academy

Origins and Bahçecik period (1873–1885)

The American Girls’ Boarding School building, used between 1873 and 1885 before the school moved to Adapazarı, seen on the right side of the second row, circa 1900 in Bahçecik.

The origins of the Academy goes back to a girl's boarding school, founded by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in the coastal town of Bahçecik, located three miles from the Gulf of Izmit (historically known as Nicomedia), an eastern inlet of the Sea of Marmara and a neighboring city to Istanbul. ^[45] At that time, İzmit maintained convenient connections with Istanbul by steamboat and rail, and was situated on the main route between the capital and the western provinces of Asia Minor, ^[46] and the district was ethnically diverse, home to Muslim Turks, Greeks, Armenians and Circassians of various religious denominations. ^[47]

The school began instruction in September 1873, as the American Girls' Boarding School, housed in a converted silkworm cocoonery and enrolled about fifty students. ^[48] Instruction included languages, mathematics, history, geography, music, religion, physical education and domestic skills such as sewing. ^[46] The institution received its official recognition from Ottoman authorities in 1876. ^[49] This year (also coinciding with the opening of the Üsküdar campus by ACG (see Origins of the Üsküdar campus) is today recorded on the school's emblem as the year of foundation.

By the end of the decade, enrollment had risen to about seventy-five, and its first graduates were already serving as teachers at the school and in neighboring villages. ^[50] This twelve-year beginning marked the foundation of the institution before the school moved out of Bahçecik in 1885. ^[51] The original girls’ school building was demolished around 1902, and no physical trace of it is known to exists today. ^[52]

Adapazarı period (1885–1921)

Alexander Hall, circa 1900s, with the caption reading “American School Adabazar"

Harris Hall, circa 1910s.

As the school became well known in the region, it received an invitation from a local board of trustees in Adapazarı, a city with a larger community and resources, about 50 miles from Bahçecik and 90 miles from Istanbul, to relocate its operations. ^[53] Proposal was approved by the ABCFM, and in 1885 the school was transferred to Adapazarı, where it began instruction on September 9, 1885, in a new three-story building provided by the trustees. ^[54] In 1886 the Ottoman government began taking steps to bring all foreign schools under the supervision of its Department of Public Instruction, as there had not been a national system of public education previously. At that time, the American schools in the empire were among the first to respond to these regulations, promptly arranging to conform to the laws and requirements established by the Ottoman authorities. ^[55] The government granted the school an official operating permit in 1886, making it the first American Board institution in the country to be managed primarily by local administrators, ^[53] with the Board providing American teachers and scholarships while finances and governance largely in the hands of the Adapazarı trustees. ^[56] Government officials attended commencement ceremonies, including representatives of the governor and the armed forces, with Turkish dignitaries delivering complimentary speeches as part of the event. ^[57]

Dr. Zaruhi Kavaljian (Class of 1898), first female physician of the Ottoman Empire.

The school continued to establish its academic reputation, a notable example being Zaruhi Kavaljian (Class of 1898), who went on to study medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and became the first female physician of the Ottoman Empire. ^[58]

By 1898, the school had expanded to include four departments: Kindergarten, Primary School, Preparatory School, and High School, along with a teacher-training department added in 1909. ^[57] English held a central place, with students required to use it in daily communication.

The school continued until the end of the 1914–15 academic year, when its campus was requisitioned by the Ottoman Army and converted into a military hospital. It reopened in 1918. ^[59] In spring 1921 it moved briefly to İzmit, and later that summer to Üsküdar, reopening on 15 September 1921 as the American School for Girls. ^[60]

Origins of the Üsküdar campus

Üsküdar campus in the early 20th century, with Barton Hall (left) and Bowker Hall (right)

The Üsküdar campus had originally been built for the American College for Girls (ACG), also known as the Home School or Constantinople Home, later the girls’ section of Robert College. Founded in 1871 in Istanbul's old city, ACG moved to Üsküdar in 1876, when its first permanent building, Bowker Hall, was completed. ^[61]

Bowker Hall was named in honor of Mrs. Albert Bowker, who organized the Woman's Board of Missions in Boston in 1868 and helped secure funding for the building in Istanbul. ^[62] Barton Hall, added in 1883, was named after the Barton family, who contributed funds for its construction. ^[63] In the following decades two additional faculty residences; the Round House (c. 1890s), a distinctive circular dormitory and staff house, and Practice House were added. (c. 1900s). ^[64]

For nearly four decades (1876–1913), the Üsküdar campus served as ACG's home until the college transferred to a new site in Arnavutköy in 1913 (today the campus of Robert College). ^[65]

After ACG's departure in 1913, the Üsküdar campus was left largely vacant. During World War I, it was requisitioned by the Ottoman military and used for various purposes. ^[66]

Move to Üsküdar, secularisation and early Republican reforms (1921–1930s)

Uskudar American Academy campus map American Academy for Girls circa 1920s

When the girls’ school from Adapazarı was evacuated, the American Board arranged for it to establish itself on the now-empty Üsküdar campus. The institution reopened in Üsküdar with Mary Kinney as its principal on 15 September 1921 as the American School for Girls, marking the beginning of its continuous presence in Üsküdar. ^[67]

At that time the campus consisted of former ACG buildings—Bowker Hall (1876), Barton Hall (1883), Round House (c. 1890s), and Practice House (c. 1900s, later renamed Kinney Cottage in memory of Mary Kinney)—all weathered but functional after years of neglect and wartime use. ^[68]

Following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the student body composition changed rapidly. By the 1928–29 school year, Muslim Turkish students made up about half of the 319 pupils, and by 1939–40 they represented roughly three-quarters of the 260 enrolled. ^[69]

In the mid-1920s, the Turkish Ministry of Education placed all foreign schools under government supervision. The American School for Girls accordingly dropped all religious instruction, adopted a secular curriculum, and placed stronger emphasis on Turkish language, literature, citizenship, and culture. ^[70] The faculty also diversified, with an increasing number of Turkish instructors joining during this period.

In 1926, the school formally adopted the name American Academy for Girls (AAG; Turkish: Amerikan Kız Lisesi). ^[71] By 1934, its primary program was phased out, and the school operated only at the middle and high school levels. The Ministry of Education recognized it as a lycée, which allowed graduates to enter Turkish universities without examination. ^[72] In the upper grades, students could choose one of three specialization tracks: home economics, commercial studies, or college preparatory. ^[73]

Through these changes of the 1920s and 1930s, the institution transitioned from a missionary-based girls’ school into a national, secular high school aligned with the educational reforms of the early Turkish Republic. ^[74]

Bilingual English–Ottoman Turkish enrollment and fee notice issued by the Academy for the 1928–1929 academic year

Martin Era (1935–1950)

Jessie E. Martin (1892–1980) was an American educator, born in Tarsus, Ottoman Empire, and educated at Oberlin College (B.A., 1915). ^[75] She returned to Turkey in 1920 and became principal of the American Academy for Girls in 1935, serving until 1950. ^[76]

Barton Hall in 2023

Martin restored Barton Hall, which had been severely damaged by fire in 1905 during the ACG period and left unrepaired for 41 years. In 1946–47, the school secured permits from Turkish authorities and the four-storey building was fully renovated. ^[77] The restored Barton Hall provided the school with its first proper science laboratories, gymnasium, and large library, transforming both academic and social life on campus. ^[78]

Under Martin's leadership, the school also reinforced its civic orientation: students participated in literacy drives and community service in Üsküdar. ^[79] Enrollment during her tenure stabilized at around 250–300, now predominantly Muslim Turkish girls. Boarding continued to attract students from across Anatolia, while day-student numbers grew steadily in Istanbul. ^[80]

Martin retired in 1950 after 15 years of service. Martin Hall on the UAA campus is named after her. ^[81]

Morgan Era (1952–1977)

Helen Louise Morgan (1912–2004) was born in Chicago, Illinois. She studied at the University of Chicago, earning her A.B. in 1934 and A.M. in 1936. ^[82] She taught Spanish in the Chicago area before coming to Turkey. ^[83]

Morgan's tenure emphasized modernization and expansion. She strengthened the science program with new laboratories, expanded the library collection, and broadened arts and athletics. ^[84] The new central classroom building, Martin Hall—named after her predecessor—opened on 14 November 1955, becoming the academic hub of the campus. ^[85] By the 1960s–70s, extracurriculars flourished with music, drama, sports, and community-service clubs. ^[86]

The school gained a reputation for preparing graduates for top universities in Turkey and abroad. ^[87] Morgan also democratized governance by encouraging Turkish faculty to participate more directly in administration, preparing the eventual handover of the school to local leadership. ^[88] She retired in 1977. Morgan Hall on the UAA campus was later named in her honor. ^[89]

SEV transition and co-education (1977–present)

Bowker Hall (1876), western entrance

After Helen Morgan's retirement in 1977, the school increased its integration into the Turkish national education system while still preserving its bilingual and college-preparatory character. ^[90] The Health and Education Foundation (Turkish: Sağlık ve Eğitim Vakfı, SEV)—established in 1968 by alumni of UAA, the American Collegiate Institute (ACI) in İzmir, and Tarsus American College (TAC)—assumed increased responsibility for the school's management. ^[91]

In 1990, the admission of 54 boys among 108 preparatory class students made the school coeducational after more than a century as a girls’ institution. The name of the school was officially updated to Üsküdar American Academy (UAA). ^[92]

The historic gate of the campus, opening to Bowker Garden; also depicted on the school insignia.

The last cohort of first-year boarders was admitted in 1991, and by the mid-1990s the dormitories were permanently closed, ending more than a century of boarding life on campus. ^[93]

SEV launched a program of renewal, building the Özdemir Sabancı Sports Hall (1992) constructed with the support of the Sabancı Foundation and Morgan Hall (1994), while restoring historic campus landmarks including Barton Hall, Martin Hall, Kinney Cottage, and the Round House. ^[94]

In 1997, Turkey introduced eight years of compulsory primary education, eliminating middle school as a separate level. UAA closed its junior high section and added an affiliated kindergarten and elementary school, extending it's tradition's reach into early education. ^[95]

In 2010, the long institutional transition from the ABCFM to Turkish administration was completed as the school and the other American Board-founded schools came fully under the administration of the alumni-run Health and Education Foundation (SEV). ^[96]

Academics

Üsküdar American Academy (UAA) is recognized as one of Turkey's most prestigious private high schools. ^{[97] [98] [99] [100]} Admission is highly competitive—typically limited to students who place within the top 1% on Turkey's nationwide exam, "Liselere Geçiş Sınavı" or LGS. ^[101] In 2025, the cutoff was approximately 0.8% for boys (score: 480) and 1.1% for girls (score: 476), consistent with thresholds in previous years. ^{[102] [103]}

The school operates under the regulations of the Turkish Ministry of National Education while maintaining international standards of academic quality. ^[104] UAA is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) ^[99] and offers both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme ^[100] and selected Advanced Placement (AP) courses. ^[101] These programs allow students to engage in university-level study across disciplines such as calculus, physics, chemistry, biology, and world history. ^[101]

The Academy provides a curriculum taught primarily in English, alongside Turkish courses included under Ministry standards and guidelines. ^{[105] [102]} French, German, and Spanish are also offered as foreign languages. ^[106] Beyond core academics, UAA distinguishes itself with electives and specialized courses, including IB Computer Science, Coding & Game Design, Advanced Coding & Game Design, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Modern Physics, Film Production & Cinema Studies, Music & Technology, 3D Modelling, and Design & Innovation Management. ^[101] Co-curricular programs reinforce this focus: the Maker & Robotics Club engages students in robotics, electronics, programming, and AI. ^[107]

Arts & sports, traditions, and school culture

Athletics and the UAA Tigers

Üsküdar American Academy's athletic teams compete as the UAA Tigers, based at the Özdemir Sabancı Sports Hall. The tiger mascot—adopted in the 2000s—represents the school in competitive school leagues. The Academy's facilities include a modern sports hall, a fully equipped fitness center, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, and a soccer field. ^[108] UAA Tigers compete in a wide range of sports, including Basketball, Volleyball, soccer, swimming, Tennis, Table tennis, Badminton, hockey, and Fencing, and have earned numerous championships and top placements—particularly in basketball and volleyball—as well as strong results in swimming, table tennis, and fencing at both city and national levels. ^{[109] [110]} In addition, UAA plays a central role in organizing athletic events within the SEV Schools network, most notably tournaments that bring together sister institutions ACI, TAC, and SAC. ^[111]

Renowned Turkish rock band Duman performing at the 100th MayDay Festival, Üsküdar American Academy, 2024.

MayDay

MayDay is one of Üsküdar American Academy's oldest and most cherished traditions, celebrated annually as a spring festival that brings together students, teachers, alumni, and families for a day of music, performances, and community. The festival, which marked its 101st edition in 2025, ^[112] has featured renowned artists such as Duman, Mor ve Ötesi, and Teoman, alongside student and teacher bands, while the traditional Maypole dance has remained its signature highlight for more than a century. ^[113] Organized largely by the Student Association, MayDay continues to stand as a vibrant symbol of the school's history and spirit. ^[114]

TIMUN

The Üsküdar American Academy Model United Nations (MUN) program was first established in 1991, and UAA soon became a regular participant of The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) in the Netherlands. ^[115]

TIMUN (Turkish International Model United Nations), the Academy's international, student-run conference, was founded in 1994 and became the first high school MUN conference in Turkey. ^[116] In 1996, TIMUN was affiliated by the THIMUN Board, becoming one of the first conferences to be affiliated worldwide and the first in all of Asia. ^[115] Since then, UAA MUN club members have also served as Judges and Advocates in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as well as Deputy Secretaries-General, chairs, co-chairs, and presidents in THIMUN conferences abroad. ^[115]

Over the years, notable guest speakers at TIMUN have included Kemal Derviş, Turkish Minister of Economy and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I alongside ambassadors, journalists, and leading figures in international relations. ^[115] In 2024, TIMUN marked the 30th anniversary of its founding. ^[115]

Dramapalooza

Dramapalooza is Üsküdar American Academy's annual student-run theatre festival, showcasing a full day of performances on campus. Organized by the English Drama Club, the event brings together dozens of students to stage original scenes, short plays, and occasional film projects across multiple stages, often running nearly ten hours of continuous programming. ^[117] Each year's festival explores a different theme—for example, recent productions have addressed issues such as the environment—while giving students the opportunity to write, direct, and perform their own work. With its large scale and creative focus, Dramapalooza has become a highlight of the school's cultural calendar and a major platform for student expression in the performing arts.

Serçe and Memoranda

Üsküdar American Academy publishes two long-standing student periodicals that showcase literary and creative expression. Serçe, a Turkish-language literary magazine produced by the school's Journalism Club, is issued twice annually and features student poetry, essays, short stories, and other original works, providing a platform for young writers to share their voices within the school community. ^[118] Complementing this is Memoranda, the Academy's yearbook, which records each academic year through photographs, articles, and student reflections, documenting campus life, events, and traditions. ^[119]

A group of alumni from the Class of 1999 at the steps of Martin Hall, Brownie Day, 2025.

UAA Alumni Association, Reunions, and Brownie Day

The UAA Alumni Association, founded in 1952, serves as the main body connecting graduates of Üsküdar American Academy with each other and with the school community. ^[120] Based at Kinney Cottage on the campus, the Association oversees annual reunion gatherings for classes celebrating milestone anniversaries, offering opportunities for alumni to return and renew their ties to the Academy. It also organizes the annual Brownie Day, a long-standing tradition that brings together graduates, teachers, and families for a day of celebration. ^[121] In addition, the Association sponsors outside events and social activities and plays an active role in fundraising to provide scholarships for current students. ^[122]

Campus

Barton Hall overlooking Üsküdar and the Bosphorus

Üsküdar American Academy campus is one of the oldest continuously used educational sites in Istanbul. Located on a hill in the residential district of Üsküdar, the campus covers 18,000 square meters and includes eight principal buildings. ^[123]

Bowker Hall (1876)

Bowker Hall, east façade on the Üsküdar American Academy campus

The first permanent campus building, Bowker Hall, was completed in 1876 and named in honor of Mrs. Albert Bowker, who helped raise the funds for its construction in Boston, Massachusetts. The three-storey stone building is built in a Victorian style combining New England colonial symmetry with late-Ottoman masonry craftsmanship with a distinctive double flight of steps leading to its western entrance. ^[124]

Today, Bowker Hall houses the Turkish Language and Literature and Visual Arts departments, as well as the school dining hall. Its western gate, opening to Bowker Garden, has remained one of the campus's most recognizable architectural features and appears on the Academy's official insignia. The building has undergone several restorations, most recently in the late twentieth century.

Barton Hall (1883)

Barton Hall, completed in 1883, is the second major building constructed on the campus.

Barton Hall (1883), east façade; currently housing the English Department

It was named in honor of the Barton family, who provided funds for its construction. Built adjacent to Bowker Hall, the four-storey building is designed in a late Victorian eclectic style, featuring a French-inspired mansard roof with dormer windows, and is connected to Bowker Hall by a long interior corridor. ^[125]

The building was severely damaged by a fire in 1905 during the ACG period and remained only partially functional for more than four decades. In 1946–47, under the direction of principal Jessie E. Martin, Barton Hall was fully restored. The renovation also provided the school with its first modern science laboratories, gymnasium, and a large library. ^[126]

Today, Barton Hall serves as the home of Üsküdar American Academy's English Department.

Round House (1890s)

Round House, 2025

The Round House, a circular cottage built in the 1890s, was originally constructed as a dormitory and staff residence and has undergone several restorations since then.

Since the 1950s, it has served as the home of Üsküdar American Academy's Music Department. ^[127]

Kinney Cottage (c. 1900s)

Kinney Cottage, currently used as the UAA Alumni Office

Built as a faculty residence and later named for Mary Kinney, the cottage was long used for homemaking and home economics courses, hence previously known as Practice House. It was restored in the 1990s and converted into the Alumni Center. ^[128]

Emir Konak (1951)

A historic wooden structure that had stood on the campus since 1925, Emir Konak was fully restored in 1951 during Jessie Martin's administration. ^[128] It was renovated again in the 1990s and now houses the computer center and the “Maker Lab,” a classroom equipped with 3D printers used by the school's Maker Club. ^[129]

Martin Hall (1955)

Constructed during Helen Morgan's tenure and named in honor of her predecessor Jessie Martin (principal 1935–1950), Martin Hall was funded in part by the Ford Foundation and opened with a ceremony on 14 November 1955. ^[128] Today, it houses the mathematics department as well as the Halide Edip Adıvar Library.

Martin Hall named in honor of Jessie Martin (principal 1935–1950)

The Halide Edip Adıvar Library is the main library of Üsküdar American Academy, named after the Turkish writer and Halide Edip Adıvar, an alumna of the Academy's predecessor, the American College for Girls, from which she graduated in 1901. ^[130] It was established during a major campus renovation in 1946–47, when a large library was created in Barton Hall, and expanded significantly under Principal Helen Morgan between 1956 and 1977, growing from about 3,000 to nearly 10,000 volumes. Today, the library houses a collection of more than 22,000 print books, approximately 7,500 e-books, periodicals, and multiple academic database subscriptions, making it one of the best-equipped high school research facilities in Turkey. ^{[131] [132]} In addition to supporting the school's curriculum, it provides resources for student research, literacy, and interdisciplinary projects, with access both on-site and through digital platforms. ^[133]

Huntington Hall (1958)

Huntington Hall (1958) on the Üsküdar American Academy campus (2023)

Pipe organ

Named after George Huntington, a professor at Robert College, this building serves as the school's administrative center. It also contains the auditorium, which houses a historic pipe organ dating from 1950, one of the few of its kind in Turkey. ^[128] The organ was restored in 2022 by the UAA Alumni Association.

Özdemir Sabancı Sports Hall (1992)

Built with support from the Sabancı Foundation and named in memory of Özdemir Sabancı, a graduate of Tarsus American College, the hall is the school's main athletic facility. ^[128] It includes a multi-use games area where basketball, volleyball, and kin-ball are played, along with table tennis and a fitness room. ^[129]

Morgan Hall (1994)

Dedicated to Helen Morgan (principal 1950–1977), this science building was constructed to house laboratories and the computer center. ^[128] As of 2023, it accommodates the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology departments, along with the Redroom, a multipurpose mini-auditorium. ^[129]

Notable alumni and faculty

Sabiha Gökçen (1903–2001), pioneering aviator and the world's first female combat pilot

UAA alumni include Sabiha Gökçen, the first female fighter pilot in the world and namesake of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport; ^[134] Dr. Zaruhi Kavaljian, the first woman doctor of the Ottoman Empire; ^[135] Prof. Dr. Sevim Tekeli, the first female science historian of Turkey; ^[136] Prof. Dr. Sabahat Tuluy Kaymakçalan, the first female cardiologist of Turkey; ^[137] and Dr. Paris Pişmiş, the first female astronomer of Turkey. ^[138]

Contemporary alumni include Prof. Feryal Özel (Class of 1992), the first Turkish scientist to be accepted into the NASA Hubble program; ^[139] Dr. Ahmed Akgiray (Class of 2001), the youngest Turk to work at NASA; ^[140] Prof. Dr. Aslı Tolun (Class of 1967), the only Turkish female scientist elected to the EMBO; ^[141] and Fatma Torun Reid (Class of 1958), psychologist and founder of AŞAM, Turkey's first psychological counseling institute. ^[142] The school is affiliated with various business leaders both domestically and internationally. ^[143] Serpil Timuray (Class of 1985) was listed by Fortune Magazine as No. 23 on the World's Most Powerful Women list in 2016, ^[144] and also appeared in Newsweek on its list of World's Most Influential Women in 2013. ^[145] Magdalena Yeşil, a significant figure in Silicon Valley, entrepreneur, author, and venture capitalist, best known as the first investor and founding board member of Salesforce, ^{[146] [147]} and Dr. Canan Özsoy, longtime CEO of General Electric Turkey, ^[148] are both UAA alumni. ^{[149] [150]}

Many artists and journalists are among the alumni, including Tülay German (Class of 1956), folk and jazz vocalist, awarded the Grand Prix du Disque by the Académie Charles Cros in 1981; ^[151] Gülbün Mesara (Class of 1958), illumination (tezhip) artist and educator, recognized as one of Turkey's "Living Human Treasures" and recipient of the 2022 Turkish Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award; ^{[152] [153]} and Leyla Umar (Class of 1948), award-winning journalist and columnist, considered one of the pioneers of Turkish journalism. ^{[154] [155]}

Academia, Science & Medicine

• Ahmed Akgiray (Class of 2001) – RF/microwave engineer; worked on sub-millimeter instrumentation at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; later faculty in electrical engineering at Özyeğin University. ^[156]

• Karabekir Akkoyunlu (Class of 2001) – Political scientist specializing in comparative politics and authoritarian regimes; faculty member at SOAS University of London. ^[157]

• Gülşat Aygen (Class of 1977) – Distinguished Teaching Professor of Linguistics at Northern Illinois University; specializes in syntax, morphology, and Turkish linguistics. ^[158]

• Ayşe Durakbaşa (Class of 1979) – Sociologist and historian of modern Turkey and women's studies; professor at Marmara University. ^[159]

• Beki Kan (Class of 1969) – Professor of biophysics; head of department at Acıbadem University School of Medicine. ^[160]

• Gizem Karaali (Class of 1992) – Professor of mathematics at Pomona College; co-founder and editor of the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics ; recipient of the 2010 Young Investigator Award from the National Security Agency. ^[161]

• Türkan Kumbaracı Gardenier (Class of 1958) – Chair of Industrial Engineering at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara; named a Lifetime Achiever by Marquis Who’s Who; recognized in 2000 Outstanding Scholars of the 21st Century and Great Women of the 21st Century. ^[162]

• Canan Karatay (Class of 1961) – Renowned cardiologist; founding rector of the Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul Bilim University; widely known for public work on nutrition and health. ^[163]

• Zaruhi Kavaljian (Class of 1898) – Medicine; the first woman doctor of the Ottoman Empire. ^[164]

• Sabahat Tuluy Kaymakçalan (Class of 1943) – First female cardiologist in Turkey; co-founder of the Turkish Cardiology Society; professor and head of the Cardiology Department at Ankara University; served as personal physician to İsmet İnönü, the second President of Turkey. ^[165]

• Zeynep İlsen Önsan (Class of 1964) – Emeritus professor of chemical engineering at Boğaziçi University; specialized in heterogeneous catalysis and reaction engineering. ^[166]

• Sibel Özbudun (Class of 1973) – Anthropologist, translator, and academic at the Hacettepe University Department of Anthropology. ^[167]

• Paris Pişmiş (Class of 1930) – First female astronomer of Turkey; first Turkish woman to earn a PhD in science from Istanbul University; researcher at Harvard, Princeton, and NASA. ^[168]

• Semra Somersan (Class of 1963) – Sociologist and anthropologist; professor at Istanbul Bilgi University Department of Sociology; noted for work on urban issues and human rights. ^[169]

• Azade Seyhan – Academic and author; Professor of German and Comparative Literature at Bryn Mawr College. ^[170]

• Ayshe Talay-Ongan (Class of 1965) – Developmental psychologist; professor at Macquarie University, Australia. ^[171]

• Meliha Terzioğlu (Class of 1934) – Renowned biochemist and academic; founder of the Department of Physiology at the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine; recognized among The Leading Women of the 20th Century by the Cambridge Biographical Centre (1989); honorary member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (1995). ^[172]

• Fatma Torun Reid (Class of 1958) – Psychologist; founder of AŞAM, Turkey's first psychological consultancy center. ^[173]

• Sevim Tekeli (Class of 1950) – Renowned historian of science; professor emerita at Ankara University; specialized in Ottoman and Islamic scientific history. ^[174]

• Feryal Özel (Class of 1992) – World-renowned astrophysicist; fellow at the Harvard-Radcliffe Institute; recipient of the 2013 Maria Goeppert Mayer Award from the American Physical Society; former chair of NASA’s Astrophysics Advisory Committee. ^[175]

Politics, diplomacy and social work

• Fatma Serpil Alpman, diplomat and ambassador ^[176]
• Sevda Bakman, professor at Boğaziçi University; co-founder of the Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV). ^[177]
• Melek Sina Baydur, diplomat and ambassador ^[178]
• Zehra Zeynep Dereli, politician and entrepreneur; founding member of DEVA Party; founder of TINK Schools. ^[179]
• İdil Eser, human rights advocate; director of Amnesty International Turkey. ^[180]
• Sabiha Gökçen, aviator; first female combat pilot; adopted daughter of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ^[181]
• İştar Gözaydın, academic and human rights activist; co-founder of Açık Radyo and the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly ^[182]
• Göksel Kalaycıoğlu, politician^{[ citation needed ]}
• Birgen Keleş, politician ^[183]
• Melek El Nimer, social entrepreneur and social worker; founder of the Social Support Society and Unite Lebanon Youth Project ^[184]
• Ayşen Özyeğin, philanthropist and social worker; co-founder and president of AÇEV. ^[185]
• Ayşe Sezgin, diplomat and ambassador ^[186]
• Nur Serter, academic and politician ^[187]
• Binnaz Toprak, CHP Member of Parliament; political scientist and professor at Boğaziçi University ^[188]

Arts, Literature & Media

• Uğur Akdora (Class of 1969) – Musician and vocalist best known for “Hayırdır İnşallah (Neler Oluyor Hayatta)” in the 1970s. ^[189]

• Benli Belkıs (Class of 1935) – Actress, model, and socialite; prominent figure in Turkish cinema and society life. ^[190]

• Bahar Erkal Bahar (Class of 1998) – Actress; co-founder of Craft Tiyatro. ^[191]

• İpek Çalışlar (Class of 1965) – Journalist at Cumhuriyet and author; known for her biographies of Halide Edib Adıvar and “Latife Hanım”. ^[192]

• Nilgün Cerrahoğlu (Class of 1970) – Journalist and longtime columnist for Cumhuriyet. ^[193]

• Selma Emiroğlu (Class of 1946) – First female cartoonist of Turkey, best known for work in Akbaba magazine. ^{[194] [195]}

• Gülsün Erbil (born 1948) – Painter and visual artist; considered one of the pioneering figures of contemporary Turkish abstract art; founding member and president of the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art Association (İstanbul Modern Sanat Müzesi Derneği). ^[196]

• Canan Ergüder (Class of 1994) – Actress with notable roles in Turkish television and cinema. ^[197]

• Mahinur Ergun (Class of 1974) – Screenwriter and film director; directed the influential TV series Şaşıfelek Çıkmazı and Asmalı Konak ; recipient of Kültür Bakanlığı Başarı Ödülü (1994). ^[198]

• Kerem Esemen (Class of 2002) – Musician, composer, and conductor; founder and artistic director of the İstanbul Film Music Orchestra (İFMO). ^[199]

• Can Evrenol (Class of 2000) – Film director; known internationally for horror films including the feature Baskın . ^[200]

• Tülay German (Toulaï in France) (Class of 1956) – Renowned musician; folk and jazz vocalist; awarded the Grand Prix du Disque ( Académie Charles Cros , 1981). ^[201]

• Ece Hakim (Class of 2017) – Actress known for roles in TV series Yağmur Zamanı (2004), Gece Gündüz, Umutsuz Ev Kadınları and Eşkıya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz . ^{[202] [203]}

• Metin Hara (Class of 2000) – Writer and alternative therapist; author of Invasion of Love. ^[204]

• Emre Karacaoğlu (Class of 2001) – Music and literature writer for Yüxexes and Bantmagazine . ^{[205] [206]}

• Pelin Ekinci Kaya (Class of 1993) – Prominent film and television producer; known for her work with Beşiktaş Kültür Merkezi and Netflix. ^[207]

• Çiçek Kahraman (Class of 1995) – Award-winning film editor; recipient of Altın Koza for Best Film Editing (twice) for the feature films Ara and Ses . ^[208]

• Hikmet Körmükçü (Class of 1970) – Award-winning screen and theatre actress; recipient of Afife Tiyatro Ödülleri three times. ^[209]

• Gülbün Mesara (Class of 1958) – Illumination (tezhip) artist and educator; directed the Süheyl Ünver Nakışhanesi at Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa; recognized as one of Turkey's “Living Human Treasures”; recipient of the 2022 Türkiye Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kültür ve Sanat Büyük Ödülü. ^[210]

• Füsun Onur (Class of 1957) – Renowned sculptor and visual artist; recognized for installations and conceptual art; received the 2004 Uluslararası Eleştirmenler Derneği Onur Sanatçısı Ödülü. ^[211]

• Zeynep Arabacıoğlu Özbilen (Class of 1983) – Jazz and world-music singer; best known as a vocalist for Ayhan Sicimoğlu and Latin All Stars. ^[212]

• Semra Özdamar (Class of 1974) – Award-winning actress; Altın Portakal for Kara Çarşaflı Gelin (1977). ^[213]

• Deniz Özerman (Class of 1988) – Actress known for comedy and theatre; best known as part of BKM Oyuncuları and Bir Demet Tiyatro in the 1990s. ^[214]

• Leyla Sayar (Class of 1958) – Actress; prominent figure of Turkish cinema's classical era. ^[215]

• Seçkin Selvi (Class of 1957) – Award-winning translator, theatre critic, writer, and stage and costume designer; columnist for Günaydın and Sabah newspapers; recipient of multiple honors, including the Translators’ Association Honor Award. ^[216]

• Ayşe Sezerman (Class of 1982) – Renowned soprano; academic at the Istanbul University State Conservatory; recipient of the Ferhan Onat Honor Award presented by the Semiha Berksoy Opera Foundation. ^[217]

• M. Ferhan Şensoy (Class of 2007) – Actress and writer; known for her performances in Çalıkuşu (2013), Fi (2017), and Hot Skull (2022), and as a writer for Hot Skull. ^[218]

• Derya Şensoy (Class of 2008) – Actress; known for Doksanlar (2013) and Dünya Hali (2018). ^[219]

• Sevil Üstekin (Class of 1961) – Award-winning screen and stage actress; recipient of two Avni Dilligil Awards; known for Bizimkiler. ^[220]

• Nazlı Tolga (Class of 1997) – Award-winning journalist and TV anchor with Fox TV Turkey. ^[221]

• Çiğdem Tunç (Class of 1978) – Actress, ballerina, and TV host. ^[222]

• Leyla Umar (Class of 1948) – Award-winning journalist and columnist; considered one of the pioneers of Turkish journalism. ^{[223] [224]}

• Ayşegül Yüksel (Class of 1959) – Award-winning theatre scholar, critic, and author; head of the Department of English Language and Literature at the Ankara University Faculty of Languages, History and Geography; ^[225]

Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology

• Didem Ün Ateş (Class of 1992) – Senior business leader and technology executive; founder and CEO of LotusAI. ^[226]

• Sedef Ayhan (Class of 1996) – Managing Director, Maersk Eastern Mediterranean. ^[227]

• Hakan Baş (Class of 2001) – Entrepreneur; co-founder of Lidyana and Peak Games. ^[228]

• Bahar Birinci (Class of 1973) – CEO, Emirates Turkey (1993–2013). ^[143]

• Sibel Demir (Class of 1995) – CEO, Kotex Turkey; listed in Capital/Ekonomist “50 Powerful Women CEOs” (No:46). ^{[229] [230]}

• Yıldız Günay (Class of 1985) – CEO and board member; general manager for Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) (2012–2021). ^[231]

• Zeynep Keskin (Class of 1984) – Vice President at Oracle; former CEO of SAP Turkey. ^[166]

• Melike Koçoğlu (Class of 1997) – CEO, Alarko Holding; previously GM for Tamek and Eczacıbaşı Profesyonel. ^{[232] [233]}

• Viki Motro (Class of 1982) – General Manager, Henkel Beauty Care Professional; previously GM for Eczacıbaşı Schwarzkopf. ^{[143] [234]}

• Canan Özsoy (Class of 1980) – CEO, General Electric Turkey (2012–2022); featured in Fortune Turkey “Most Powerful Women.” ^[235]

• İnci Pirinççioğlu (Class of 1941) – Pioneer as Turkey's first professional tourist guide. ^[236]

• Serra Sabancı (Class of 1993) – Businesswoman, 3rd generation of the Sabancı family; board member at Sabancı Holding; trustee at Sabancı University and Sabancı Foundation. ^[237]

• Lale Saral Develioğlu (Class of 1986) – Senior executive in Ülker and Turkcell; board director for Turkcell, Isuzu, Anadolu Efes, and Nobel İlaç. ^{[143] [238]}

• Kağan Sümer (Class of 2005) – Entrepreneur; co-founder of Gorillas, Berlin-based delivery startup. ^[239]

• Aylin Uçkunkaya Suntay (Class of 1992) – Finance executive; CEO of Gazprombank. ^[240]

• Serpil Timuray (Class of 1987) – CEO of Vodafone Turkey; named among Fortune magazine's “Most Powerful Women in the World.” ^[143]

• Berna Ülman (Class of 1983) – Board member; Senior Vice President for Visa Europe & Turkey; featured in Fortune Turkey “Most Powerful Women.” ^[143]

• Magdalena Yeşil (Class of 1976) – Silicon Valley entrepreneur; investor and board member of Salesforce. ^[241]

Notable faculty

• Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar – Renowned novelist, poet, and essayist; taught literature at UAA. ^[242]

• Layika Karabey – Educator; long-serving faculty member. ^[243]

• Mebrure Gönenç – Educator; one of the first female MPs of the Republic of Turkey. ^[244]

Historic Figures from American College for Girls’ Üsküdar era

• Halide Edip Adıvar – Novelist, nationalist, and political leader; prominent during the Turkish War of Independence. ^[245]

• Gülistan İsmet – Turkish writer; leading female figure of the Second Constitutional Era. ^[246]

• Safiye Ali – First female physician of the Republic of Turkey. ^[247]

• Mihri Pektaş – One of the first female members of the Turkish Parliament (1935). ^[248]

In popular culture

In 2013, Turkish musician Can Bonomo filmed the music video for his song Şaşkın on the Üsküdar American Academy campus. ^[249]

The feature film Sesinde Aşk Var (2019) was shot primarily on the UAA campus, with its grounds and buildings serving as central filming locations. ^[250]

See also

• Turkey portal
• United States portal
• Schools portal

• Koç School
• Robert College
• Boğaziçi University
• American Collegiate Institute
• Talas American College
• Turkey–United States relations
• Education in the Ottoman Empire
• List of missionary schools in Turkey

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External links

• UAA Official Website
• UAA Alumni Website