05/05/2026
Sabancı University alumni gathered in Boston, USA, on Saturday, May 2nd. The event, held at Boston University and attended by alumni working in various sectors and/or pursuing postgraduate studies in and around Boston, provided a warm and interactive meeting environment that strengthened the university's global alumni network. As part of the alumni gathering series, similar events have recently been held in Munich and Amsterdam.
High-Level Participation at the Boston Alumni Gathering
The gathering in Boston was attended by Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Hayri Çulhacı, Sabancı Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, our President Yusuf Leblebici, Vice President for Education Cem Güneri, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Erkay Savaş, and Director of Institutional Development and Alumni Relations Cenk Bayırlı.
Güler Sabancı, Chair of the Sabancı Foundation Board of Trustees, who spoke first at the meeting, said, “It is a great pleasure to see Sabancı University graduates in different parts of the world and to witness the growing presence of this community. When we founded our university, our goal was to educate individuals who would have an impact on an international scale; I am proud to see this in you today.” Güler Sabancı also emphasized that alumni gatherings are not only networking opportunities but also part of the process of building a strong community, stating that the “relational capital” possessed by Sabancı University graduates is one of the most important elements of this structure.
Hayri Çulhacı, Chair of the Sabancı University Board of Trustees, said, “Our graduates are our greatest asset, and we have been able to establish our culture in this short time. My request to you is to support our university and further strengthen this bond.” Hayri Çulhacı also emphasized that graduates are one of the most important factors determining the university's global representation, and that this strong community plays a critical role in shaping the future of the university.
President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici gave a presentation at the meeting, sharing current developments regarding the University. Highlighting the university's achievements both in Türkiye and globally, Leblebici emphasized that Sabancı University achieved the largest single-time rise in Türkiye in the QS 2026 World University Rankings by Subject, highlighting that this success is a result of sustainable academic performance.
The event in Boston was also attended by prominent figures from the academic world, including Prof. Dr. Selim Ünlü (Boston University, Distinguished Professor), Dr. Rabia Yazıcıgil (Boston University), Dr. Sami Karaca (Boston University), Prof. Dr. Ayşe Kıvılcım Coşkun (Boston University), Prof. Dr. Robert Armstrong (MIT, Chevron Professor of Chemical Engineering), Dr. Deniz Erdoğmuş (Northeastern University, Technology Director), Dr. Köksal Muş (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Prof. Dr. Berk Sunar (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Prof. Dr. İsmet İ. Kaya (Sabancı University), Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ekmekçi (Boston University, Director of Graduate Studies), Prof. Dr. Barış Ata (University of Chicago, Sigmund E. Edelstone Distinguished Service Professor of Operations Management), Assoc. Prof. Meryem Yücel (Boston University, Research Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering), and Prof. Dr. Canan Güneş Çorlu (Boston University, Supply Chain Management Coordinator).
Global Connections Continue to Strengthen
At the gathering in Boston, alumni shared memories from the past and had the opportunity to strengthen their ties with each other and the university. The event, attended by alumni from different graduating classes, once again demonstrated the international solidarity of the Sabancı University community. Donations collected from alumni during the event covered the cash needs of 6 students. This meaningful contribution from alumni added a social responsibility dimension to the gathering, which is intended to be further strengthened in the future.
